Former Aide Says NY Gov Cuomo Sexually Harassed Her

A former aide of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo came out with allegations that Cuomo sexually harassed her while working for him. Lindsey Boylan, who was Cuomo’s former deputy secretary for economic development and special adviser to the governor, said Cuomo constantly sought her out. He asked staffers to arrange meetings with her where he made inappropriate comments. This included an unwanted kiss in the Governor’s office and other behavior that made me nauseous going to work. 

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Cuomo Sexually Harassed Boylen

Lindsey Boylan, who eventually resigned from the Democratic governor’s team, worked for Cuomo between 2015 to 2018. “I'm compelled to tell my story because no woman should feel forced to hide their experiences of workplace intimidation, harassment and humiliation — not by the Governor or anyone else,” she wrote in an essay on Medium. 

The discomfort started when her boss told her the Governor had a crush on her. Stephanie Benton, Director of the Governor’s Offices, told Boylan in an email that the Governor suggested I look up images of Lisa Shields. his rumored former girlfriend. Since then, the governor began calling her “Lisa” in front of colleagues. It was degrading. Another incident happened after Boylan and Cuomo had a one-on-one briefing. Cuomo stepped in front of Boylen as she was about to leave and kissed her on the lips.

Cuomo Would Go Out Of His Way

In her online post, Boylan also recounted episodes where Cuomo sexually harassed her. The governor “would go out of his way to touch me on my lower back, arms and legs,” and shred images that supported her story. Previously, Cuomo denied the allegations of sexual harassment. Boylan already made the allegations last year but did not share the details she did now.  “Look, I fought for and I believe a woman has the right to come forward and express her opinion and express issues and concerns that she has. But it’s just not true,” said Cuomo during a news conference.

In one of the post images, it shows Boylan texting her mother about the time Governor Cuomo asked Boylan’s boss if she would attend an event he was going to. “He is a sexist pig and you should avoid being alone with him!” Boylan’s mother texted her. In one 2017 incident where Boylan shared a plane ride with the Governor, he suggested that they play strip poker. At the time of the question, a press aide and a state trooper sat next to her. She responded “THat’s exactly what I was thinking,” sarcastically. 

‘Simply False’

Caitlin Girouard, the spokesperson for Cuomo, reiterated that Boylan’s claims aren’t true. Boylan’s “claims of inappropriate behavior are quite simply false” and said the plane conversation did not happen. She pointed to witnesses on the same flight that they never heard the conversation described by Boylan take place. 

Boylan, a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully last year for a seat in Congress. Now, she is running for Manhattan borough president. Meanwhile, several NY Democrats already issued statements about the allegations. “Clearly, there is no place for this type of behavior in the workplace or anywhere else,” said Andrea Stewart-Cousins, NY State Senate majority leader. NY GOP Representative Elise Stefanik, a Cuomo critic, issued a fiery statement calling for the governor to resign. “Any elected official who does not immediately call for his resignation is complicit in allowing a sexual predator to continue leading the great state of New York,” Stefanik said.

Cuomo Already Under Fire

Prior to the allegations, Cuomo is already under fire for a number of issues. Both Democrats and Republicans are calling out the Governor for allegedly withholding data on coronavirus deaths in the state’s nursing homes. He is also accused of frequent bullying, among them State Assemblyman Ron Kim. Cuomo reportedly threatened to destroy Kim’s career following disagreements over the nursing home scandal. They are both Democrats.

Watch the NY Post video featuring Ex-aide Lindsey Boylan detailing sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Cuomo:

At one point, President Joe Biden considered Cuomo for the post of US Attorney General. That post eventually went to former judge Merrick Garland. Do you think NY Governor Andrew Cuomo is still fit to run for office? Or, do you think it’s time for him to quit following his string of controversies? Tell us what you think by sharing your thoughts in the comment section below.