New accusations of inappropriate behavior have surfaced against Gov. Andrew Cuomo by a former aide and current Monroe County official. Ana Liss, the third former aide to make such accusations, says Cuomo asked her if she had a boyfriend, called her sweetheart, touched her on her lower back, and kissed her hand.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Liss worked as an operations aide for Cuomo between 2013 and 2015, and the inappropriate actions happened in the first year of her working for him. She says she initially thought the actions were “harmless flirtations”, but over time it became patronizing and felt like it diminished her.
In a public appearance Cuomo said, “I understand that sensitivities have changed and behavior has changed, and I get it. And I’m going to learn from it.”
He also said that this type of behavior is the norm for him.
Liss, along with others, said the governor asked them regularly about their dating lives, touched them and commented on their appearance. She says her experience working for Cuomo was enough to prompt her going to mental-health counseling in 2014.
She now works as the director of the Department of Planning and Development in Monroe County.
Cuomo is facing backlash after several former aides have come forward about his inappropriate behavior in the workplace. There’s also an investigation into his handling of reporting COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.
New York State Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, among others, has called for Cuomo to resign. He says he will not.