Cuomo created a 'sexually hostile' workplace, Justice Department says

The Justice Department concluded that former New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and his leadership exposed female employees to a “sexually hostile work environment,” and then retaliated against some people who complained, according to a settlement filed Friday was announced.

The findings appear to largely substantiate the investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who concluded that Mr. Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women amid a culture of fear and intimidation. Mr Cuomo, who denied sexually harassing anyone, resigned in August 2021, shortly after the publication of Ms James' report.

Since leaving office, Mr. Cuomo has been involved in a multi-pronged campaign to discredit the report and Ms. James as politically motivated, and is slowly maneuvering toward a return to political life.

But Mr. Cuomo's efforts could be seriously jeopardized by the Justice Department's findings that he repeatedly subjected women who worked for him to unwanted sexual contact, comments and stares, and that he gave some women preferential treatment based on their physical appearance.

The report adds that Executive Chamber staff enabled this behavior and retaliated against a number of people who filed complaints. The Justice Department characterized the chamber's response as “designed solely to protect Cuomo from further accusations, rather than to protect employees from sexual harassment.”

Rita Glavin, a lawyer for Mr. Cuomo, questioned the methodology of the Justice Department's investigation and noted that Mr. Cuomo had not been contacted. “This is nothing more than a political settlement with no investigation,” Ms. Glavin said, adding, “Governor Cuomo has not sexually harassed anyone.”

The Justice Department's findings were included in a settlement it reached with the administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who succeeded Mr. Cuomo.

Under the terms of the settlement, the Hochul administration initiated a series of reforms aimed at preventing future misconduct, including new capabilities for external reporting and investigations, an expansion of the Chamber's human resources department and the removal of employees from who were found to have facilitated the settlement. Mr. Cuomo's misconduct.

Ms Hochul said in a statement that she was pleased that the Ministry of Justice had recognized her government's efforts, adding: “The moment I took office, I knew I had to confront the culture of intimidation that previously the Executive Chamber ravaged, had to eradicate and implement strong measures. policies to promote a safe workplace for all employees, and has taken immediate action to that end.”

Last week, Mr. Cuomo filed a lawsuit to force Ms. James' office to release investigative material that he claimed would vindicate him. He has also aggressively defended himself against civil lawsuits from women who claim he sexually harassed them.

In 2021, Mr. Cuomo was accused of groping a former executive staffer named Brittany Commisso. The case was dismissed after the Albany County District Attorney's Office determined there was not enough evidence to proceed. District attorneys in Westchester, Nassau, Manhattan and Oswego counties also investigated the conduct in Ms. James' report but opted not to file charges against the former governor.