New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he was “embarrassed” by the sexual harassment allegations but will not resign.

The Governor of New York, Andrew CuomoHe assured this Wednesday that he would not resign from his post after being denounced for sexual harassment.

“I will not resign”the Democratic official said at a press conference in which he stressed that he would cooperate fully with the investigation into the events to be carried out by the state attorney general’s office.

Although he made it clear that he will not be stepping down, Cuomo said he felt “embarrassed” by the allegations and apologized: “I understand that I acted in a way that put people uncomfortable, it was not intentional and frankly and deeply I apologize. I feel really bad about it, I am ashamed”she said on the verge of tears, her voice shaking.

“I have never touched anyone inappropriately (…)” Certainly never, I never intended to offend or hurt someone or to hurt someone “, he said Likewise, the governor urged residents of the state “Wait for the facts of the attorney general’s report before having an opinion” on what happened.

“I apologize for any pain that may have caused someone, that was never my intention and I will be a better person as a result of this experience,” he concluded.

Two former aides and a third woman accused Cuomo of verbally and physically harassing them, which sparked a wave of criticism against the governor inside and outside his party, who they asked to resign from his position. its functions.

The first complaint concerned Lindsey Boylan, Cuomo’s former councilor and current Manhattan Borough presidential candidate, who claimed to have harassed her on several occasions between 2016 and 2018, reaching out to give her an unsolicited kiss on the lips.

His accusations were joined this weekend by those of Charlotte bennett, who was a health policy adviser until last November and who said The New York Times What the governor asked her if she was monogamous and if she had ever had relations with older men.

The 25-year-old former adviser said the 63-year-old governor had indicated he was open to having relationships with women her age, which she interpreted as clear proposals for sex.

“I figured out that the governor wanted to sleep with me and I was feeling awfully uncomfortable and scared and wondering how I was going to get out of it and I assumed that was the end of my job “Bennett told the New York newspaper.

This Monday, the young woman stressed that the governor, who had already publicly apologized this weekend, does not “acknowledge or still take responsibility for their predatory behavior” and encouraged other women with similar experiences with him to report.

The New York governor’s office gave the green light to the state attorney general on Monday, Letitia james, to investigate accusations of sexual harassment brought by two women against the Democratic politician.

James announced that he had received an official letter giving his team “The Authority to Advance an Independent Investigation into the Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Governor Cuomo.”

“This is not a responsibility we take lightly, as reports of sexual harassment should always be taken seriously. As stated in the letter, at the end of the examination, the findings will be disclosed in a public report, ”the prosecutor said in a statement.

For their part, officials of the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party asked on Tuesday the “immediate resignation” and launch a political lawsuit against Cuomo. In a statement, they expressed their solidarity with the three complainants.

“It is clear that Governor Cuomo used his position of power to harass and intimidate. There is no excuse for such behavior in government or elsewhere. “says the text, which asks the politician to resign and the legislative chambers of the state to start the procedures to start a political trial.

“The governor has shown that he is unfit to occupy the office of government, and the legislature has an obligation to thoroughly investigate his abuses and grievances,” the statement added.

With information from AFP and EFE

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