On January 26, the U.S. Justice Department concurred with the New York attorney general’s determination that former Governor Andrew Cuomo had violated federal law by sexually harassing female employees and retaliating against those who spoke out.
In response, a settlement was reached between the federal agency and the New York Executive Chamber, approving reforms implemented by Cuomo’s successor, Kathy Hochul, aimed at preventing and addressing misconduct. These reforms, initiated by Hochul, included the termination of employees involved in facilitating or enabling retaliation against Cuomo’s accusers, the establishment of a human resources department, and the creation of new channels for reporting instances of sexual harassment.
The settlement, announced on Friday, mandated further actions from the State’s executive chamber, including the expansion of the human resources department, the introduction of additional avenues for reporting and resolving complaints involving high-ranking officials, and the implementation of enhanced training and anti-retaliation programs.
In response to the announcement, Cuomo’s attorney, Rita Glavin, reiterated Cuomo’s denial of the allegations, stating that he had not sexually harassed anyone. Glavin criticized the Justice Department’s investigation, alleging that it relied solely on the State Attorney General’s report, which she described as biased and flawed.
The conclusion of the probe, initiated in August 2021 following findings by New York’s Democratic attorney general, marked a significant development in the aftermath of accusations against Cuomo. The attorney general’s report detailed instances where Cuomo had allegedly groped, kissed, or made suggestive comments to 11 women, along with claims of retaliation against the first accuser to come forward.
Subsequently, under pressure from various quarters, including President Joe Biden, Cuomo resigned from his position as governor of New York in 2023, after serving since 2011. In a separate development, one of Cuomo’s aides filed a civil lawsuit against him in 2023, alleging ongoing sexual harassment dating back to December 2019, including unwelcome advances and comments.
Although a criminal complaint had been previously filed against Cuomo, it was ultimately dropped by a local prosecutor due to insufficient evidence to support charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
