New York attorney general denounces Cuomo’s criticism of his report

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NEW YORK (AP) New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday dismissed repeated complaints from former Governor Andrew Cuomos that the sexual harassment investigation that led to his resignation was tainted with politics, saying the Democrat had never taken responsibility for his own conduct.

James, speaking to a civic group in New York City, defended the 165-page report released by his office in August that Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women.

Mr. Cuomo has a lot to say on these matters, but he has never taken responsibility for his own conduct. Hes never held himself responsible for how his behavior affected our state government, said James, also a Democrat.

Cuomo has categorically denied that he intentionally mistreated the women. He said he was stepping down to avoid subjecting the state to months of unrest. Since the announcement of his resignation, he has promoted opinion columns on social networks that question the independence of the investigation and suggest that his ousting was an orchestrated political bludgeon.

It was politics. Every step of the way, he said in a tweet last week.

The five-month non-criminal investigation by James’s office found that 11 women in and outside the state government were telling the truth when they said Cuomo touched them inappropriately, their commented. appearing or making suggestive comments about their sex life. The report also detailed efforts by its staff to discredit some of its accusers.

Let’s not lose sight of what’s important, says James. It is not me. It’s not Mr. Cuomo, but the survivors of his harassment. The people of our state whose trust he broke. And the people who believed in him, including myself. No one is above the law. And our state can do better to move forward.

James compared his investigation to the one Cuomo himself led while serving as attorney general and investigated the government of the day. Eliot Spitzer, who resigned in 2008 in a prostitution scandal.

She noted that her investigation began after Cuomos’ office referred the allegations to her, that it was led by outside investigators, and that it lasted for five months. Cuomos’ investigation into Spitzer, James said, began without outside reference, took 20 days, and was processed within the office.

She said her office plans to release the transcripts of the 179 people interviewed as part of the investigation.

James’ office only released excerpts from the interviews. The Associated Press has filed open case requests in August for full transcripts and tapes of interviews with Cuomo and other witnesses, but has yet to receive the documents.

Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo’s senior advisor and his longtime spokesperson, called on the attorney general to release these transcripts and a video recording of the former governor being interviewed by James’ investigators.

This should raise serious red flags that the MA and his staff avoid whenever specific questions about omissions and inaccuracies in the MA’s report are raised. The public deserves specific responses from the GA as to the credibility of her report, particularly as she reflects on a governorship.

Prior to resigning, Cuomo, his attorney, and staff attacked the fairness of James’ report of his conduct, including claiming that records showed that an accuser account had been groped at the governor’s mansion could not have been occur during the period she claimed.

James is considered a potential 2022 candidate for governor of New York. After delivering remarks at the Wednesday event, James dodged a question from the moderator as to whether she would introduce herself, stating: I focus on my job, lower my head, and serve you all as Attorney General.

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Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak contributed to this report.

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