New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday rejected damning sexual assault allegations against him in part by showing a montage of him touching and kissing various people over the years.
"I've been making the same gesture in public all my life ... It is meant to convey warmth and nothing more," Cuomo said during a lengthy press conference. "There are hundreds if not thousands of photos of me using the exact same gesture. I do it with everyone."
Cuomo played the montage after referencing a New York Times report on a woman who said he made an unwanted advance on her at a wedding in September 2019 by touching her face and kissing her on the cheek.
Incredible moment as Cuomo displays face-touching slideshow: “I do it with everyone. Black and white, young and old, straight and LGBTQ, powerful people, friends, strangers, people who I meet on the street.” pic.twitter.com/CIwbAJj9R3
— Jessy Han (@hjessy_) August 3, 2021
Whoa at this pic: A young woman says Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked if he could kiss her at a wedding, and put his hands on her face
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 2, 2021
Anna Ruch said she felt “uncomfortable and embarrassed” when he did this https://t.co/oxb5fbBqO3pic.twitter.com/4IdxDp62WL
Cuomo included photos of Obama and Bush hugging *hurricane victims* in his 85-page defense, most of which is pictures pic.twitter.com/err8EldLwh
— Eliza Relman (@eliza_relman) August 3, 2021
The New York governor said there were "generational" and "cultural" perspectives he hadn't "fully appreciated" in making such gestures.
"I do kiss people on the forehead. I do kiss people on the cheek. I do kiss people on the hand. I do embrace people. I do hug people. Men and women ... I now understand that there are generational or cultural perspectives that, frankly, I hadn't fully appreciated. And I have learned from this," Cuomo said.
Cuomo has been accused of harassing 11 women.
In a 165-page report, investigators in the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote that Cuomo "sexually harassed a number of current and former New York State employees by, among other things, engaging in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching, as well as making numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women."
James on Tuesday applauded the women who've come forward with allegations against Cuomo. "I am inspired by all the brave women who came forward, but more importantly I believe them," she said.
Cuomo has repeatedly pushed back on the allegations against him, and continued to do so on Tuesday. "I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances," the New York governor said.
There are growing calls for Cuomo to resign.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or visit their website to receive confidential support.
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