New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been plotting his future poolside at his Albany mansion as it emerged he was responsible for signing a law that could trigger his own downfall.
The embattled governor was seen lounging by the pool at the executive mansion earlier this week with a large notepad as a woman believed to be his secretary Stephanie Benton typed away on a laptop.
Cuomo has been in hiding at the executive mansion ever since New York Attorney General Letitia James released her damning report that found he had sexually harassed multiple women.
The report, released Tuesday, concluded that Cuomo violated state and federal laws by sexually harassing at least 11 women - including nine state employees - and retaliating against one accuser.
The governor now faces a criminal investigation by the Albany County Sheriff's office after one of the women - who accused him of groping her breast at his executive mansion - filed a report with police.
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said in a press conference Saturday the criminal investigation could lead to the governor's arrest and that, based on the information available so far, he could be slapped with a misdemeanor charge.
Now, it has emerged that Cuomo signed the very law that could see him face criminal charges for his alleged sexual harassment as he publicly sought to portray himself as an ally of the #MeToo movement.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been plotting his future poolside at his Albany mansion as it emerged he was responsible for signing a law that could trigger his own downfall
The embattled governor was seen lounging by the pool at the executive mansion earlier this week with a large notepad
A woman believed to be his secretary Stephanie Benton typed away on a laptop
On August 12 2019, Cuomo signed a bill into law introducing sweeping changes to workplace harassment protections for victims vowing in a press briefing to 'actually change things.'
'Let's honor all the women who have endured this humiliation,' he said at the time.
'Let's honor the women who have had the courage to come forward to tell their stories – and let's actually change things.'
The very next day, Cuomo allegedly harassed a female state trooper who he had handpicked to be part of his security detail even though she lacked the requisite experience.
'Why don't you wear a dress?' he allegedly asked the staffer on August 13, according to James' report.
Cuomo signed the bill at a time that the world was reeling from the allegations against now-convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein and the instances of sexual harassment and assault brought to attention in the #MeToo movement.
He had introduced the plan the previous year at a time when he was seeking re-election for his third term. He won re-election in November 2018.
As well as the timing of the alleged encounter and the new law, the legislation also enables his accusers to pursue complaints against him longer after the incidents happened.
Among the changes in the law was the extension of the statute of limitations for sexual harassment claims in the workplace to be filed from one to three years.
Cuomo has been in hiding at the executive mansion ever since New York Attorney General Letitia James released her damning report Tuesday
Now, it has emerged that Cuomo signed the very law that could see him face criminal charges for his alleged sexual harassment as he publicly sought to portray himself as an ally of the #MeToo movement
At least eight of the 11 women whose allegations were upheld in James' report said the alleged harassment took place after early October 2017.
Now, under Cuomo's law extending the statute of limitations, the women can pursue criminal charges for incidents spanning the majority of this time period.
The law also ends the legal requirement that sexual harassment be 'severe or pervasive' to be legally actionable and mandates that any employment NDAs allow employees to file harassment or discrimination complaints.
Cuomo also made it 'unlawful' for companies to retaliate against any employee who complains of sexual harassment.
The AG's 165-page report found that the governor retaliated against one of his accusers - a violation of his own policy.
Cuomo released a video responding to the report's findings Tuesday denying sexually harassing anyone
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said in a press conference Saturday the criminal investigation could lead to the governor's arrest and that, based on the information available so far, he could be slapped with a misdemeanor charge
When Lindsey Boylan, a former state economic development official, became the first woman to come forward with allegations against Cuomo in December, the governor's office leaked her personnel record in an apparent attempt to discredit her.
Cuomo has taken other actions in recent years to try to cement his image as a supporter of women's rights.
In September 2019, he signed a law extending the statute of limitations to 20 years for rape in the second degree and to 10 years for rape in the third degree and for a criminal sexual act in the third degree.
He has also partnered with the TIME'S UP on numerous occasions and would tout his fatherhood to three girls as a personal reason for his support.
Cuomo's attempts to boost his popularity with a public image that champions women's rights may now contribute to his downfall if he is found to have committed a crime as part of police investigations.
A current aide who accused Cuomo of groping her breast at his executive mansion filed a criminal complaint against him Thursday.
Governor Andrew Cuomo is spotted walking his dog in the morning of August 7 outside his home in Albany
The embattled governor looked somber as he spoke on his cellphone during the walk
The governor and his dog outside the executive mansion in Albany Saturday morning
Cuomo has been holed up in the mansion all week since the damning report from the AG's office found he sexually harassed multiple women
Cuomo takes his pet dog for a walk. The executive mansion where he has been in hiding is the location of the alleged groping incident
The criminal report from the woman, known only as 'Executive Assistant #1' in James' damning report, is the first known instance where a woman has made an official report with a law enforcement agency over the alleged misconduct by Cuomo.
Albany Sheriff Apple said in a press conference Saturday that his office was contacted by the woman's attorney Wednesday night saying she wanted to file an allegation of criminal conduct against the governor.
The accuser and her attorney then came in for an hour-long meeting Thursday where she filed a formal criminal report and the sheriff's office launched an investigation.
'We've reached out to the attorney general's office requesting investigative material to go forward with our investigation and that's where we're at today,' said Apple.
The next steps will involve investigators compiling the facts and carrying out interviews with the victim, he said, before deciding whether to move forward with any charges.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo with the woman described as 'executive assistant one' in a photo included in New York Attorney General Letitia James' damning report. The woman has now filed a criminal complaint against him
Sheriff Apple said he 'commended' the woman for coming forward as he said the investigation was 'involving criminal conduct' and referred to the woman as 'a victim' multiple times
'I'm not going to rush it because of who he is and I'm not going to delay it because of who he is,' he said.
He added: 'We treat victims the same. We investigate the same. This one obviously just has more eyes on it.'
He added that, while he couldn't yet say if it could lead to a misdemeanor or felony charge, 'from what I have read so far it is floating around a misdemeanor but that's just from the attorney general's report.'
'Yes it could lead to an arrest and would our agency be affecting that arrest? Yes absolutely,' he said.
The Cuomo aide who filed the police report has leveled one of the most damning accusations against the governor among all allegations brought by multiple women in recent months - an allegation that was upheld in James' report.
The executive assistant accused Cuomo of reaching under her shirt and fondling her breast when they were alone together at the Executive Mansion on November 16 2020.
Cuomo was deep in conversation on his cellphone as he continued to cling to power Saturday
The governor continues to deny the allegations with his legal team holding a press conference Friday trying to discredit the alleged victims
She told investigators on James' team she was 'in such shock' as he 'cupped my breast' during the encounter.
The aide also told investigators with the attorney general's office that Cuomo once rubbed her rear end while they were posing together for a photo.
The alleged incident took place on December 31 2019 when Cuomo asked her to take a selfie of them as they worked together inside his office at the Executive Mansion.
As she held up the camera, Cuomo 'moved his hand to grab her butt cheek and began to rub it' for at least five seconds, the report alleges.
The assistant 'was shaking so much during this interaction' that the photos came out blurry — and Cuomo suggested the two sit down to take one more, the document says.
That photo, showing Cuomo smirking while he sits back on a couch with the aide, is included in the report.
The woman told investigators she didn't report what had happened because she was 'terrified'.
The District Attorneys of Manhattan, Albany and Westchester all opened criminal investigations into Cuomo's conduct earlier this week and urged women to come forward, following the release of James' investigative report Tuesday.
Cuomo continues to deny all of the allegations leveled against him and is refusing to stand down despite mounting calls for his resignation from former Democrat allies and the impending outcome of an impeachment probe.
The governor's legal team tried to discredit the aide's allegations in a press conference Friday afternoon - from which Cuomo was absent.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James speaks at a news conference Tuesday announcing her investigation found he sexually harassed multiple women
Cuomo's lawyer Rita Glavin said the groping allegation was fabricated.
'He is 63 years old. He has spent 40 years in public life and for him to all of the sudden be accused of a sexual assault of an executive assistant that he really doesn't know, doesn't pass muster,' Glavin said.
Calls for Cuomo's resignation or impeachment soared this week after James released the report.
Investigators corroborated numerous allegations from multiple women ranging from inappropriate comments to forced kisses and groping, the report found.
Senior Democrats including Joe Biden Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Chuck Schumer have all urged Cuomo to resign.
State lawmakers are now moving toward a likely impeachment proceeding over the allegations.
Lawyers working for the state Assembly sent a letter to Cuomo Thursday giving him until August 13 to respond to the allegations against him or provide documents to bolster his defense.
The state Assembly's judiciary committee plans to meet Monday to discuss the possibility of impeachment proceedings.
A majority of members of the legislative body have already said they favor an impeachment trial if he won't resign.
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