State Attorney General Letitia James on Monday formally received the green light to launch an independent investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the government. Andrew Koumo – As the administration hired a defense attorney to represent it in the Justice Department’s investigation of its operation of a nursing home during the COVID-19 epidemic.
“Today, the Executive Chamber dispatched a referral letter to our office, which empowered us to proceed with an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment claims against Governor Cuomo,” James said in a statement. “It is not a responsibility that we take lightly because allegations of sexual harassment should always be taken seriously. As stated in the letter, at the end of the review, the findings will be revealed in a public report. “
Under state law, James’ office had to request permission from the governor’s office on Sunday morning to investigate the allegations, only for Beth Garvey, Cuomo’s special counsel, to seek an independent investigator .
Under intense bipartisan pressure to allow the truly independent investigation to run its course, Garvey pleaded late Sunday and agreed to give James a referral.
For less than a week, the 63-year-old, Cuomo, has been accused of sexual harassment by two former employees – Charlotte Bennett, 25, and Lindsey Boylan, 36.
Cuomo apologized on Sunday, stating that he apologized for being called “jokes” as “jokes”, denying that he bothered anyone and inappropriate physical contact. Never intended to be busy, as Boylan said.
The referral letter came in the form of the Executive Chamber – which includes both Cuomo and his top aides – retained by defense nursing attorney Alkan Abramowitz to represent his interests in the current nursing home scandal.
As The Post reported exclusively last month, Melissa Derosa, a top aide at Cuomo, acknowledged Democratic lawmakers in a private meeting that the state intentionally obscured the extent of the coronovirus’s death in nursing homes for fear of a possible federal investigation is.
Ironically, the Cuomo administration at the Brooklyn US Attorney’s Office hoped to escape.
Abramowitz confirmed to The Post that he was representing the Executive Chamber on the nursing home case, but has not been upheld on sexual harassment charges.
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