Published by Bernadette Hogan
December 14, 2020
ALBANY — Upstate Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is calling for an independent investigation intoallegationsof sexual harassment made against Gov. Andrew Cuomo by one of his former aides, Lindsey Boylan.
“I am publicly calling for an independent investigation into the serious allegations of pervasive workplace sexual harassment and verbal abuse by Governor Andrew Cuomo. The people of New York deserve a Governor who lives up to his own public statements on sexual harassment,” Stefanik said in a statement Monday about claims made by Boylan who tweeted over the weekend that the Democratic governor “sexually harassed” her “for years” about her “looks.”
She worked for Cuomo from 2015 to 2018 as his deputy secretary for economic development and special advisor and is currently running for Manhattan borough president.
“Cuomo should be held to his own stated standards. Just as Governor Cuomo appointed an independent investigator to investigate victims’ allegations against former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a completely independent investigation must exclude all Cuomo appointees and political allies,” added the politician, pointing to Cuomo’s own appointment of a special prosecutorto investigatethe domestic assault allegations against Schneiderman that forced him to resign.
Stefanik would not say who should head the probe however.
Early Sunday morning, Boylan tweeted of her former boss: “Yes, @NYGovCuomo sexually harassed me for years. Many saw it, and watched.”
“I could never anticipate what to expect: would I be grilled on my work (which was very good) or harassed about my looks. Or would it be both in the same conversation? This was the way for years,” she continued.
Boylan has also publiclycomplainedin the past that the governor created a “toxic work environment.”
But Cuomo’s aides denied the claim Sunday, and he tooshot downthe allegations Monday during a coronavirus-related press conference.
“It’s not true. 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,” explained Cuomo.
“But it’s just not true.”
After making the claims Sunday, Boylan said in follow-up tweets that she has “no interest in talking to journalists.”
Adding: “I am about validating the experience of countless women and making sure abuse stops.”
She did not return multiple requests for comment by The Post.
When asked to respond to Stefanik, Cuomo spokeswoman Caitlin Girouard doubled down on defending her boss.
“There is zero truth whatsoever to these claims,” she said.
She also confirmed that Boylan did not file any complaints or allegations against the governor while under his employment nor during her exit interview.
You can read the full article at: https://nypost.com/2020/12/14/elise-stefanik-calls-for-probe-into-cuomo-harassment-allegations/
