Letitia James has proved to be fearless during her tenure as New York Attorney General. As the first Black woman to hold this prestigious position, she has pursued legal action against former President Donald Trump, gone to battle against the NYPD and investigated the New York Department of Health's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, she may have embarked on her toughest legal journey yet.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and her team have filed a 165-page report that claims New York Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed nearly a dozen women during his time in office. James' report also indicates that Cuomo fostered a hostile work environment that was plagued with intimidation and fear. In its entirety, James told reporters that the lengthy report provides “a deeply disturbing, yet clear, picture,” of the "toxic workplace" that Cuomo has led.
"Our investigation revealed that the Governor’s sexually harassing behavior was not limited to members of his own staff, but extended to other State employees, including a State Trooper on his protective detail and members of the public," the report adds.
"We also conclude that the Executive Chamber’s culture—one filled with fear and intimidation, while at the same time normalizing the Governor’s frequent flirtations and gender-based comments—contributed to the conditions that allowed the sexual harassment to occur and persist. That culture also influenced the improper and inadequate ways in which the Executive Chamber has responded to allegations of harassment."
The accusations made against Cuomo have piled up in recent months. In February, a New York Times report described an encounter involving Cuomo and his former executive assistant, Charlotte Bennett. Cuomo allegedly questioned Bennett about her sex life and told her that he would be open to having a relationship with a woman in her 20s. Not long thereafter, former aide Lindsay Boylan accused Cuomo of attempting to kiss her. After Bennett and Boylan came forward, Cuomo said that he "may have been insensitive or too personal" when speaking to colleagues and apologized to those who might have "misinterpreted [the remarks] as an unwanted flirtation."
Cuomo has not issued a statement regarding the recent 165-page from James.
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