A former aide of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday accused him of several instances of sexual harassment and unwanted touching during her tenure in the administration.
In an essay published on Medium, Lindsey Boylan said that the official made a culture where pervasive sexual harassment and bullying are prevalent.
Boylan, who worked for the state's economic growth authority and in Gov. Cuomo's office as chief of staff from 2015 to 2018, said he "would go out of his way" to "touch her on her lower back, arms and legs."
Boylan's supervisor also informed her that the governor "had a crush" on her. She told her mother about what her boss told her in a Nov. 14, 2016 text message.
She also shared a screenshot of an email dated Dec. 14, 2016. Cuomo said Boylan should search for a certain Lisa Shields. Shields was rumored to be the governor's ex-girlfriend.
The former aide's friend, who worked as an executive with an influential civic engagement organization, also warned her to "be careful" around the Governor.
Boylan also claimed Gov. Cuomo kissed her on the lips during a meeting in his office and suggested they "play strip poker" during an airplane flight.
"He was seated facing me, so close our knees almost touched. His press aide was to my right and a state trooper behind us," she said of the experience.
However, Cuomo's press secretary Caitlin Girouard told the Associated Press that Boylan's statements are not factual.
While Boylan indeed flew with Cuomo on four occasions that month, Girouard insisted that the flight logs go against her recollection of the people on board.
In a series of tweets last December, Boylan, who is now running for Manhattan borough president, also claimed that Cuomo had "sexually harassed [her] for years."
Yes, @NYGovCuomo sexually harassed me for years. Many saw it, and watched.
— Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) December 13, 2020
I could never anticipate what to expect: would I be grilled on my work (which was very good) or harassed about my looks. Or would it be both in the same conversation? This was the way for years.
The Governor also refuted the claim that Boylan initially posted on her social media account.
"Look, I fought for and I believe a woman has the right to come forward and express her opinion and express issues and concerns that she has," Cuomo explained.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said she found Boylan's story "disturbing." The Democratic lawmaker said this type of behavior has no place in the workplace or anywhere else.
"Harassment in the workplace of any kind should not be tolerated," said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, also a Democrat.
An advocacy group representing ex-state employees who have been sexually harassed known as the "Sexual Harassment Working Group" has asked for an independent inquiry into Cuomo's workplace conduct.
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