In a landmark decision, the U.S. Justice Department has concurred with the New York attorney general’s damning assessment that former Governor Andrew Cuomo violated federal law by engaging in sexual harassment and retaliatory actions against those who dared to speak out. The repercussions of this verdict include a comprehensive settlement with the New York Executive Chamber, approving a series of reforms initiated by Cuomo’s successor, Kathy Hochul, to combat and address workplace misconduct.
Hochul’s sweeping reforms not only entail terminating employees complicit in or supporting retaliation against Cuomo’s accusers but also involve the establishment of a dedicated human resources department and the creation of innovative channels for reporting instances of sexual harassment. The Justice Department, in its announced settlement on Friday, has mandated the executive chamber to further enhance the human resources department, introduce additional avenues for reporting and resolving complaints involving high-ranking officials, and implement new training and anti-retaliation initiatives.
Responding to the announcement, Cuomo’s attorney, Rita Glavin, vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that the former governor had not sexually harassed anyone. Glavin criticized the Justice Department’s investigation, claiming it solely relied on the allegedly flawed, inaccurate, biased, and misleading report from the state attorney general.
This development marks the conclusion of a probe initiated in August 2021 following revelations by New York’s Democratic attorney general, who disclosed Cuomo’s illegal actions, including groping, kissing, or making suggestive comments to 11 women. The probe also revealed that Cuomo’s office had retaliated against the first accuser to go public. Under mounting pressure, Cuomo resigned from his gubernatorial position a week later, spurred by calls from President Joe Biden and other influential figures.
In 2023, a former aide of Cuomo filed a civil lawsuit against him, detailing continuous sexual harassment dating back to December 2019. The lawsuit included allegations of sexual comments and unwanted touching. Despite a previous criminal complaint, the only one filed against Cuomo, being dropped by a local prosecutor citing insufficient evidence, the scandal continues to cast a shadow over the once-serving governor who held office since 2011 as the leader of New York, the fourth-largest state in the U.S.
