Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, appeared at God’s Battalion of Prayer Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sunday where he defended himself against allegations that he had sexually harassed multiple women. In his first public appearance since his resignation, Cuomo claimed he had been canceled and said that God and “the Good Book” had been guiding him.
“I’ve learned a powerful lesson,” said Cuomo, “and I paid a very high price for learning that lesson. God isn’t finished with me yet. And every day I ask him for his guidance to help me grow and to help me learn.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office conducted an investigation last year into the allegations against Cuomo, responded to his Sunday message in a statement, saying, “Serial sexual harasser Andrew Cuomo won’t even spare a house of worship from his lies. Even though multiple independent investigations found his victims to be credible, Cuomo continues to blame everyone but himself. Cuomo wasn’t railroaded; he quit so he wouldn’t be impeached. New Yorkers are ready to move forward from this sick, pathetic man.”
Why is he speaking at a church? https://t.co/s7QKuo4ERf
— Daniel Darling (@dandarling) March 7, 2022
Andrew Cuomo’s Tumultuous 2021
Beginning in December 2020, multiple women came forward alleging that Cuomo, then-governor of New York, had harassed them with conduct that included sexual comments, kissing and groping. On Aug. 3, 2021, James released an investigatory report that found Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women. The report, which is over 160 pages long, concludes in part:
Upon completion of our independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment brought against Governor Andrew Cuomo and the surrounding circumstances, we have reached the conclusion that the Governor sexually harassed a number of State employees through unwelcome and unwanted touching, as well as by making numerous offensive and sexually suggestive comments. We find that such conduct was part of a pattern of behavior that extended to his interactions with others outside of State government.
Many of Cuomo’s colleagues, including President Biden, called on him to resign, which he did on Aug. 24, 2021. Cuomo has persistently denied the allegations against him, saying he is “old-fashioned” and that the women are misrepresenting what happened. While some prosecutors have found the allegations credible, none have pressed criminal charges against Cuomo due to a lack of evidence.
In November 2021, the New York State Assembly released a report that concluded: “Former Governor Cuomo engaged in multiple instances of sexual harassment, including by creating a hostile work environment and engaging in sexual misconduct.” That report also found that Cuomo misused state funds and property to write, publish and promote his book and that he did not accurately report the number of nursing home residents who died as a result of COVID-19.
Andrew Cuomo Speaks at Ally’s Church
Rev. Alfred Cockfield II, who has been a supporter of Andrew Cuomo’s for some time, introduced Cuomo to his congregation Sunday after summarizing several ways the former governor stood with “our community” during the pandemic. “He’s a friend,” said Cockfield, “and I never turn my back on friends.”
