Woman, 25, who accused NY Gov Cuomo of sexually harassing her last June slams him for refusing to take responsibility for his 'predatory behavior' in her first statement since the scandal broke

 One of two women who have accused New York Gov Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment has slammed him for refusing to acknowledge or take responsibility for 'his predatory behavior' in her first statement since the scandal broke. 

Charlotte Bennett, 25, claimed that Cuomo asked her inappropriate questions about her sex life, including whether she ever had sex with older men, when she was working for him last June.

Cuomo responded to Bennett's allegations, which were first made public on Saturday, saying he never made advances toward her and never intended to be inappropriate.

'The last thing I would ever have wanted was to make her feel any of the things that are being reported,' he said of Bennett, who had worked as a health policy adviser in Cuomo's administration until last November. Cuomo said he had only intended to be a mentor for Bennett.

Cuomo later said he had authorized an outside review of Bennett's allegations following widespread backlash. 

Charlotte Bennett
Gov Andrew Cuomo

Charlotte Bennett, 25, has claimed that NY Gov Cuomo had asked her inappropriate questions about her sex life, including whether she ever had sex with older men, when she was working for him last June

Bennett on Monday issued a statement to the New York Times in which she accused the Democratic governor of refusing to take responsibility for his behavior and wielding his power to avoid justice.

'As we know, abusers - particularly those with tremendous amounts of power - are often repeat offenders who engage in manipulative tactics to diminish allegations, blame victims, deny wrongdoing and escape consequences,' Bennett said in her first statement since her accusations were made public. 

'It took the governor 24 hours and significant backlash to allow for a truly independent investigation. 

'These are not the actions of someone who simply feels misunderstood; they are the actions of an individual who wields his power to avoid justice.' 

Separately, her attorney Debra S. Katz said: 'He was not acting as a mentor and his remarks were not misunderstood by Ms Bennett.

'He was abusing his power over her for sex. This is textbook sexual harassment.' 

Bennett is the second woman to accuse Cuomo of harassment. 

Another former aide, Lindsey Boylan, a former deputy secretary for economic development and special adviser to the governor, recently accused Cuomo of subjecting her to an unwanted kiss and inappropriate comments. 

Another former aide, Lindsey Boylan, (above) a former deputy secretary for economic development and special adviser to the governor, recently accused Cuomo of subjecting her to an unwanted kiss and inappropriate comments

Another former aide, Lindsey Boylan, (above) a former deputy secretary for economic development and special adviser to the governor, recently accused Cuomo of subjecting her to an unwanted kiss and inappropriate comments

Cuomo denied those allegations.

It comes as New York's Attorney General Letitia James said she's moving forward with an investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo after receiving a letter from his office authorizing her to take charge of the probe. 

The referral letter allows Attorney General Letitia James to deputize an outside law firm to conduct the inquiry with full subpoena power. When the investigation is finished, the findings will be disclosed in a public report.

'This is not a responsibility we take lightly as allegations of sexual harassment should always be taken seriously,' James said.  

In making her allegations public at the weekend, Bennett told the Times her most disturbing interaction with Cuomo happened on June 5 last year when she was alone with him in his Albany office. 

New York's attorney general Letitia James said she's moving forward with an investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo after receiving a letter from his office authorizing her to take charge of the probe

New York's attorney general Letitia James said she's moving forward with an investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo after receiving a letter from his office authorizing her to take charge of the probe

She said Cuomo started asking her about her personal life, her thoughts on romantic relationships, including whether age was a factor, and said he was open to relationships with women in their 20s. 

Bennett said she also dodged a question from Cuomo about hugging by saying she missed hugging her parents. 

She said Cuomo never touched her. 

'I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared,' Bennett said. 'And was wondering how I was going to get out of it and assumed it was the end of my job.'  

Bennett said Cuomo also told her he wanted a girlfriend, 'preferably in the Albany area,' and he was lonely since breaking up with Sandra Lee, a chef and TV personality.

Bennett also said she tried to change the subject when Cuomo's comments were making her uncomfortable, telling him she was thinking of getting a tattoo. 

She said Cuomo responded by suggesting she put the tattoo on her buttocks.

Bennett said she informed Cuomo's chief of staff, Jill DesRosiers, about the interaction less than a week later. She said she was transferred to another job on the opposite side of the Capitol. At the end of June she also gave a statement to a special counsel for Cuomo.

De Blasio slams Cuomo's 'apology' over sexual harassment claims
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Cuomo's special counsel, Beth Garvey, has acknowledged that the complaint had been made and that Bennett was transferred as a result to a position in which she had already been interested.

Garvey said in a statement that Bennett's allegations 'did not include a claim of physical contact or inappropriate sexual conduct' and Bennett 'was consulted regarding the resolution, and expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the way in which it was handled.'

'The determination reached based on the information Ms Bennett provided was that no further action was required which was consistent with Ms Bennett's wishes,' Garvey said.

Bennett said she decided not to push for any further action by the administration. She said she liked her new job and 'wanted to move on.'

The allegations came just days after Boylan, the other former aide, wrote in an online essay that Cuomo had made several 'inappropriate gestures' toward her while she worked for the state government from 2015 to 2018, including sending her a rose on Valentine's Day and kissing her on the mouth.  

The pair of harassment allegations represent a deepening crisis for Cuomo, who just months ago was at the height of his popularity for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recent weeks, he has been assailed over revelations that his administration had underreported COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. 

A state assemblyman went public with complaints that Cuomo had threatened to destroy him politically over statements he made in the press, prompting other politicians to share stories about having been bullied by the governor.

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