BY ALEX MITCHELL
As Governor Andrew
Cuomo faces a probe into
newly alleged sexual harassment
against a second former
staffer, a Bronx senator
says it’s time for him to go.
Calling Cuomo a “monster”
on Twitter, Senator and
sexual abuse survivor Alessandra
Biaggi expressed her
disgust with the Governor
in a written statement which
called on Cuomo to leave his
post after allegedly sexually
harassing two former
staffers, Lindsey Boylan and
Charlotte Bennett.
.@NYGovCuomo, you are
a monster, and it is time for
you to go. Now.
“I am especially horrifi ed
by the comments the Governor
made to Charlotte about
her experience with sexual
assault – comments he did
not deny making. They are
the epitome of a hostile work
environment,” Biaggi stated,
adding that “the harassment
experienced by these former
staffers is part of a clear pattern
of abuse and manipulation
by the Governor, and
that pattern makes him unworthy
of holding the highest
offi ce in New York.”
Biaggi, who chairs the
senate’s ethics and internal
governance committee also
criticized and questioned
how truly independent this
investigation could be as, in
her own words, “the Governor’s
infl uence touches all
entities in New York that
might review his conduct.”
“The current review, arranged
by the Governor’s
team and overseen by an
individual who has a work
history with his close associates,
does not meet any
standard of independence.
While a truly independent
investigation may uncover
more evidence or instances
of abuse, the existing details
are suffi cient for me to
form my conclusion,” Biaggi
wrote just before formally
calling on Cuomo’s resignation.
Bronx Assemblywoman
and borough president candidate
Nathalia Fernandez
also called on the governor
to step down pending credible
results of his upcoming
investigation.
BRONX TIMES R 2 EPORTER, MARCH 5-11, 2021
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi. Courtesy of Offi ce of Senator Biaggi
“Being an elected offi cial
is a privilege. As such, we
have to ensure every woman
can work in an environment
free of sexual harassment,”
Fernandez stated.
“While Governor Cuomo
seems to have listened to the
many of us who have called
for an independent investigation,
his referral must be
immediate and ensure that
the Attorney General has
subpoena powers,” the lawmaker
added.
These new allegations
against Cuomo surface after
weeks of supposed scandals
regarding the ‘void’
of underreporting nursing
home fatalities and allegedly
threatening harsh retaliation
against Assemblyman
Ron Kim.
Bronx senator calls on
‘Monster’ Cuomo to resign
link
link