- By Steve Bittenbender | The Center Square contributor/March 19th, 2021
(The Center Square) – A new accuser has come forward in the ongoing sexual harassment scandal tied to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. On Friday, a current staffer came forward with a series of allegations against the leader facing numerous calls to resign over similar accusations.
Alyssa McGrath told The New York Times that the governor gawked at her body and commented on her appearance. In another instance, she claimed Cuomo “gazed down her shirt.”
She becomes the second current aide to accuse Cuomo of harassing behavior. Last week, the Albany Times Union reported an unnamed individual filed a complaint that the governor grabbed her in the executive mansion last year.
McGrath, 33, also said the anonymous staffer revealed details about that encounter, including Cuomo allegedly telling her not to discuss the incident with McGrath.
In less than a month, Cuomo has now been named by multiple women who have accused him of unwanted physical touching or asking probing questions about their love lives or preferences. Those claims have led to investigations by both the Attorney General’s office and the state Assembly.
“The women in the executive chamber are there to work for the State of New York, not serve as his eye candy or prospective girlfriend.” Mariann Wang, an attorney for McGrath, told the Times.
The new allegations come a day after Lindsey Boylan spoke to Ronan Farrow at The New Yorker spoke about the culture of harassment and bullying she saw while working for Cuomo. Boylan was the first former aide to come forward, and among her claims was that Cuomo planted an unwanted kiss on her in his New York City office.
She added that Cuomo could be caustic with staffers as well as those with whom he disagreed. During a party at the executive mansion’s pool house, she claimed a picture of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was hung on a dartboard.
The accusations of bullying and sexual harassment, along with an ongoing federal investigation into how the Cuomo administration reported nursing home deaths, have cratered the governor’s popularity numbers.
On Friday, City & State New York reported the findings from a Data for Progress survey of New York voters. It found that only 39 percent of them hold a favorable impression of the governor, compared to 54 percent unfavorable. Just 41 percent approve of his job performance.
When it comes to resigning, 49 percent said Cuomo should do so immediately, and 53 percent believe lawmakers should start the impeachment process now. If the gubernatorial election were held now, only 15 percent would vote for him. Two-thirds of respondents said they would pick a new candidate.
As the claims against Cuomo grow, a new report emerged against another potential candidate in the 2022 election. Late Friday afternoon, New York Magazine reported that Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, who has been mentioned as a GOP candidate next year, reportedly touched a then-25-year-old female lobbyist in an inappropriate manner at a bar.
Nicolette Davis claimed Reed put his hand on back and started to unclasp her bra from outside her shirt.
While the magazine reported another individual at the event supported Davis’ claims, Reed’s office disputed the accuracy of the account.
Now They’re Coming for Your Beer and My Wine
There’s no mistaking the trend, driven by poor science. Federal government resources are coming for your beer and my wine. The CDC says every little swallow adds risk to your life and health, but looked at more closely, how serious are these risks anyway? More importantly, is it good science? by David Stone TheCenters of…
Keep reading
New Art: Woman with a Parasol in Central Park
Times change, and we are taking a fresh approach and looking at the world through art. In 1875, Claude Monet painted his early masterpiece, Woman with a Parasol – Madame Monet and Her Son. It’s the earliest days of impression and a soft approach to color and object discovers the most beautiful essentials of the…
Keep reading
Free This Week-Register for “Theater of War” at Four Freedoms
A cast of stars reads from the Theater of War, from Sophocles’s Ajax, about “…the visible and invisible wounds of war.” The performance is followed by community panelist remarks and a facilitated audience discussion. The Roosevelt Island Daily News When: Wednesday, September 27 · 5 – 7 pm EDT (FREE: Registration Required) Where: FDR Four…
Keep readingLoading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
About Author
