Andrew Cuomo has used $285,000 of marketing campaign funds to pay authorized payments in his combat in opposition to the sexual harassment allegations introduced by a number of ladies, a brand new report claims.
Paperwork filed Friday with the state Board of Elections, and seen by the New York Post, reveal the New York governor paid lawyer Rita Glavin $111,774 on Might 3 for ‘skilled providers’ after hiring her to defend him within the scandal.
One month in a while June 2, the governor paid out one other $173,098 in marketing campaign money to her regulation agency – the exact same day Cuomo informed reporters political donations weren’t going towards his authorized prices ‘at the moment’.
Cuomo employed Glavin to signify him as claims of sexual harassment, misconduct and inappropriate habits began to mount in opposition to him earlier this 12 months.
The discharge of the paperwork comes forward of a weekend the place the governor is predicted to be questioned for the primary time over the flurry of allegations.
Through the early days of the pandemic, Cuomo was lauded for his dealing with of the disaster within the virus epicenter of the world, along with his every day press briefings even incomes him an Emmy.
However the governor’s status has unraveled in latest months as 9 ladies have now come ahead to accuse him of sexual harassment and inappropriate habits.
Cuomo has repeatedly denied the allegations saying he ‘by no means touched anybody inappropriately’ and ‘by no means made any inappropriate advances’ however has apologized for making anybody really feel ‘uncomfortable.’
In the meantime, he has additionally been rocked by the COVID-19 nursing house deaths scandal and pointed questions have arisen over the writing of his controversial memoir and the alleged particular remedy afforded to his family and friends within the early days of the pandemic.
Andrew Cuomo (pictured on Wednesday) has used $285,000 of marketing campaign funds to pay his authorized payments in his combat in opposition to the sexual harassment allegations introduced by a number of ladies, in response to a report
Paperwork filed Friday with the state Board of Elections reveal the New York governor paid lawyer Rita Glavin $111,774 on Might 3 for ‘skilled providers’ and one other $173,098 on June 2
Cuomo’s first accuser Lindsey Boylan, 36, retweeted a submit from New York Instances journalist Luis Ferré-Sadurní Friday, that includes a screengrab of the bills and detailing the excellence between what the governor mentioned on the time and what the filings present.
The 2 funds are listed as paid by ‘Andrew Cuomo for New York, Inc.’ and paid to ‘Glavin PLLC.’
Boylan wrote alongside the submit: ‘*pretends to be shocked*.’
The funds are listed solely as ‘skilled bills’ with no different particulars supplied.
Glavin, a former US Justice Division official, first represented Cuomo when the primary present aide in his workplace went on the file with allegations in opposition to him.
The aide, Alyssa McGrath, informed The New York Instances Cuomo had flirted along with her, regarded down her shirt and commented on her look by calling her ‘stunning’ in Italian.
Within the June 2 press convention, Cuomo denied hiring non-public counsel to signify him within the numerous investigations he’s going through.
The governor mentioned it was commonplace apply for investigations right into a state official to be paid for by the state.
‘The Government Chamber has retained the counsel and that may be a state expense,’ he informed reporters.
Cuomo employed Glavin (pictured) to signify him as claims of sexual harassment, misconduct and inappropriate habits began to mount in opposition to him earlier this 12 months
Certainly one of Cuomo’s accusers Lindsay Boylan retweeted a submit from New York Instances journalist Luis Ferré-Sadurní, writing ‘*pretends to be shocked*’
‘That has been in each investigation. In order that’s the place we are actually.’
When requested if he was utilizing or deliberate to make use of marketing campaign funds for private authorized bills, he responded: ‘Not at the moment.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to the governor’s workplace for remark.
Investigators are anticipated to query Cuomo this weekend concerning the sexual harassment allegations in opposition to him in an indication that the state’s probe could also be reaching its ultimate phases.
The state employed two exterior legal professionals, Joon H. Kim and Anne L. Clark, to steer the investigation into Cuomo – which is being overseen by Lawyer Normal Letitia James, The New York Times reported.
Kim and Clark are anticipated to interview Cuomo in Albany on Saturday 4 months after investigations into him started, sources informed the outlet.
Investigators have been at all times anticipated to talk with Cuomo, who mentioned firstly of the probe in March that he would ‘totally cooperate.’ Cuomo can be going through an impeachment inquiry within the state meeting.
Kim and Clark have gathered testimony from a number of of the ladies who’ve accused him as a part of the investigation.
Cuomo initially apologized and mentioned he ‘discovered an vital lesson’ about his habits round ladies, although he is since denied he did something improper and questioned the motivations of accusers.
He has additionally rebuffed calls to step apart over the allegations.
‘We have now mentioned repeatedly that the governor does not wish to touch upon this overview till he has cooperated, however the continued leaks are extra proof of the clear political motivation of the lawyer basic’s overview,’ Cuomo senior advisor Richard Azzopardi mentioned.
The investigation is being overseen by Lawyer Normal Letitia James, pictured
Azzopardi’s assertion Thursday was the second time that Cuomo’s high spokesperson has claimed that James, additionally a Democrat, and her probe have been politically motivated.
In April, Azzopardi blasted James for confirming that her workplace was additionally investigating whether or not Cuomo broke the regulation by having members of his employees assist write and promote his latest memoir ‘American Disaster: Management Classes From the Covid-19 Pandemic’.
‘Each the comptroller and the lawyer basic have spoken to individuals about operating for governor and it’s unethical to wield prison referral authority to additional political self-interest,’ Azzopardi mentioned on the time.
A few of Cuomo’s high allies within the state legislature have referred to as on the general public to await the outcomes of James’ investigation and to not undermine her integrity.
State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, a Bronx Democrat, mentioned he trusts the impartial investigators chosen by James, and mentioned that ‘their credibility and professionalism cannot be questioned.’
Lindsey Boylan, a former Cuomo aide, got here out in December with allegations in opposition to him – she additional detailed her expertise in a February submit to Medium
Charlotte Bennett, 25, accused Cuomo of propositioning her in his workplace final June
‘There was a way from individuals early on that as a result of the governor was so instrumental in serving to her turn into AG that she would then turn into conscious of his political wants,’ Rivera, who chairs the state senate’s well being committee mentioned,
‘Now she’s confirmed time and again that she’s accountable to the individuals of the state of New York.’
Sen. John Liu, Majority Assistant Whip within the state Senate, mentioned that Azzopardi’s assertion is the ‘typical Cuomo playbook.’
‘These sorts of feedback, making an attempt to run interference, making an attempt to deflect, making an attempt to implicate no less than politically — my learn of it’s that people within the governor’s circle together with the governor are no less than nervous and at most operating terrified,’ mentioned Liu, a Democrat who’s referred to as on Cuomo to resign.
‘Clearly, Cuomo’s making an attempt to undermine the AG,’ Liu mentioned. ‘I believe as a result of he’s in a precarious scenario, he’d be making an attempt to undermine anyone who’s investigating him.’
This 12 months’s legislative session has concluded, however lawmakers may return later in the summertime or fall if the probe winds up.
‘I haven’t got a way of a transparent timeframe,’ Liu mentioned. ‘I believe Tish James is being as thorough as she will be able to, figuring out that it doesn’t matter what she will likely be accused of politics. However I I believe she’s conducting an intensive investigation and all of the info, and I stay up for her conclusions and proposals.’
The state meeting’s judiciary committee has launched its personal probe into whether or not there are grounds to question the governor on points from sexual misconduct to his $5 million e book deal.
It is also unclear when the Meeting probe will wrap up, nevertheless it’s possible that it will not be earlier than James’ investigation concludes.
Alyssa McGrath mentioned Cuomo ogled her physique, referred to as her and her co-worker ‘mingle mamas’ and requested about her lack of a marriage ring as effectively calling her stunning in Italian
She additionally claimed Cuomo regarded down her shirt to go with her on her necklace throughout a gathering with him
Anna Ruch has accused Cuomo of inappropriate habits
Karen Hinton (left), a press aide, and Jessica Bakeman accused Cuomo of inappropriate actions
A minimum of one accuser has mentioned she solely desires to talk with investigators within the lawyer basic’s probe slightly than sit via two separate interviews.
‘The AG’s report goes to be important,’ Liu mentioned. ‘The lawyer basic’s report and proposals will carry an excessive amount of weight.’
Boylan was the primary girl to accuse the governor in social media posts again in December.
She labored for Cuomo’s workforce from March 2015 to October 2018.
Boylan claims the governor kissed her on the lips and instructed they play a sport of strip poker.
The governor has denied these allegations.
After she got here ahead with the accusations, the governor’s workplace launched her personnel data which included disciplinary suggestions in opposition to her and allegations of bullying.
Boylan has mentioned her personnel materials was leaked in an effort to smear her.
Since she got here ahead, no less than eight different ladies have accused the governor of sexual harassment or inappropriate habits.
The state employed two exterior legal professionals, Joon H. Kim, left, and Anne L. Clark, proper, to steer the investigation into Cuomo. Kim and Clark are anticipated to interview Cuomo, 63, in Albany on Saturday 4 months after investigations into him started
New York state Sen Alessandra Biaggi (proper) branded Andrew Cuomo (proper) a ‘monster’ as politicians on each side of the aisle flip their backs on the governor after he was accused of sexual harassment by a second former aide
Biaggi, chair of the Senate Ethics and Inner Governance Committee, led lawmakers in condemning Cuomo on Saturday
In the meantime, the intercourse pest probe is only one in a ballooning variety of investigations into the embattled governor.
The governor is being investigated over claims he lined up COVID-19 deaths within the state’s nursing properties after it emerged the numbers launched to the general public confirmed solely half the variety of fatalities.
A separate inquiry can be underway in relation to his memoir e book to find out whether or not Cuomo unlawfully abused state sources, together with staffers, to draft and advertise.
Cuomo’s workplace has insisted staffers who labored on the e book did so voluntarily.
Investigators are additionally wanting into whether or not Cuomo misused public sources by giving his household preferential COVID-19 testing within the early days of the pandemic when testing was not widespread.
The ladies who’ve accused Gov Andrew Cuomo of harassment
Lindsay Boylan, 36
Former aide Lindsay Boylan, 36, was the primary girl to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment in a Medium submit on February 24. She claimed that the governor requested her to play strip poker and kissed her on the lips with out her permission when she labored for him in 2017.
Lindsay Boylan, 36
Charlotte Bennett, 25
Charlotte Bennett, 25, got here ahead a couple of days after Boylan and claimed that Cuomo sexually harassed her final June whereas she was working as a well being coverage adviser in his administration on the peak of the COVID-19 disaster.
Bennett accused Cuomo of ‘grooming’ her and asking inappropriate questions on her intercourse life.
She additionally claimed that he informed her he was open to relationship ladies of their 20s.
BENNETT mentioned the governor requested her about her love life – together with whether or not she ever had intercourse with older males – and talked about his personal, saying that age variations did not matter in relationships and he was open to relationship ladies over 22.
Throughout a gathering alone in his workplace, the governor mentioned he was lonely and talked about desirous to hug somebody, Bennett mentioned.
She mentioned she swiftly complained to Cuomo’s chief of employees and was transferred to a different job.
She mentioned she spoke to a lawyer for the governor, however didn´t insist on additional motion as a result of she appreciated her new submit and wished to maneuver on.
Charlotte Bennett, 25
Anna Ruch, 33
Anna Ruch was the third girl to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment and the one one so far who didn’t work with him in an expert capability. She claimed that Cuomo put his arms on her face and requested if he may kiss her simply moments after they met at a September 2019 marriage ceremony in Manhattan.
Anna Ruch, 33
Ana Liss, 35
Ana Liss, 35, a former aide, mentioned Cuomo requested her whether or not she had a boyfriend, as soon as kissed her hand at her desk and referred to as her by patronizing names, together with ‘blondie,’ ‘sweetheart’ and ‘honey.’
At a reception, the governor hugged her then put his arm round her decrease again and waist as they posed for picture, Liss mentioned.
She mentioned she ultimately requested for a job switch. In an interview, Liss mentioned she was ‘not claiming sexual harassment per se,’ however felt the administration ‘wasn’t a secure area for younger ladies to work.’
Liss, who beforehand served as Cuomo’s coverage and operations aide between 2013 and 2015, informed the Wall Road Journal that in her time in his administration, the governor had subjected her to unsolicited advances, together with touching her decrease again, kissing her hand and quizzing her about her love life.
Ana Liss, 35
Karen Hinton, 62
The oldest allegations in opposition to Cuomo got here from Karen Hinton, who served as a press aide for him when he led the US Division of Housing and City Growth 20 years in the past and he or she was a advisor for the company. Hinton informed the Washington Publish a few 2000 incident when she mentioned Cuomo summoned her to his ‘dimly lit’ lodge room and embraced her after a piece occasion. She mentioned she tried to drag away from Cuomo when he pulled her again and held her earlier than she managed to flee the room.
Karen Hinton, 62
Unnamed sixth accuser
Probably the most damning allegations leveled in opposition to Cuomo so far got here from a sixth accuser, whose identify has not been launched.
The accuser, who’s a member of Cuomo’s employees, alleged that he closed a door, reached below her shirt and fondled her after summoning her to the governor’s mansion in Albany for assist along with his cellphone, in response to the Instances Union of Albany.
It first reported on her accusation final month; she then gave extra element in her first interview on the matter, revealed Wednesday.
The girl spoke on the situation of anonymity to guard her privateness, though her identification is thought throughout the governor´s circle, the Instances Union reported.
The girl, an govt assistant, informed the Instances Union the governor gave her kisses on the cheek and inappropriately tight hugs for years and made remarks together with, ‘If you happen to have been single, the issues that I’d do to you’ and ‘I am single and able to mingle.’
Then, sooner or later in November, she was summoned to his Government Mansion workplace to assist him with a cellphone drawback, she mentioned.
He obtained up from his desk, began groping her and informed her ‘I do not care’ after she tried to deflect him by saying he was going to get them into bother, after which he slammed the door, she mentioned.
Then he reached below her shirt and clutched considered one of her breasts over her bra, she informed the newspaper.
The girl informed a colleague this winter concerning the alleged encounter, and the co-worker informed a supervisor in early March, in response to the newspaper.
Cuomo referred to as the report ‘gut-wrenching’ in a March assertion and mentioned: ‘I’ve by no means achieved something like this.’
One other feminine aide, who has remained nameless, claimed he referred to as her to his Government Mansion final 12 months, reached below her shirt and fondled her
Jessica Bakeman
Jessica Bakeman claimed in a first-person article for New York Journal that she was sexually harassed by Cuomo on a number of events for the reason that begin of her journalism profession in 2012.
Bakeman added her voice because the seventh accuser as she detailed inappropriate touching by the governor as he continued to disclaim the entire claims.
‘He took my hand, as if to shake it, then refused to let go,’ Bakeman wrote of an interplay with Cuomo as she mentioned goodnight at a vacation celebration in 2014 when she was solely 25 years previous.
‘He put his different arm round my again, his hand on my waist, and held me firmly in place whereas indicating to a photographer he wished us to pose for an image.’
On the time Bakeman had been working for what’s now Politico New York and claimed that purple flags went up as her ‘job was to investigate and scrutinize him’.
‘I did not need a picture of him along with his arms on my physique and a smile on my face,’ she wrote.
Jessica Bakeman, a reporter who as soon as lined the Cuomo administration, was the seventh girl to return ahead with claims of harassment
‘However I made the reflexive evaluation that the majority ladies and marginalized individuals know instinctively, the calculation about danger and energy and self-preservation. I knew it could be far simpler to smile for the temporary second it takes to snap an image than to problem some of the highly effective males within the nation.’
In an earlier 2012 incident whereas she was working for USA At present, Bakeman additionally claims that Cuomo stored her pinned to his facet as he informed a narrative to her male colleagues.
‘He left it there, and stored me pinned subsequent to him, for a number of minutes as he completed telling his story,’ she mentioned. ‘I stood there, my cheeks scorching, laughing nervously as my male colleagues did the identical. All of us knew it was improper, however we did nothing.’
The reporter, who now works in Florida, claimed that Cuomo ‘by no means let me overlook I used to be a lady’ as she additionally alleged that he made frequent makes an attempt to humiliate her, together with calling out her purple cellphone as a substitute of answering her query throughout a press gaggle.
Alyssa McGrath, 33
McGrath, a present administrative assistant in Cuomo’s workplace, informed The New York Instances that he regarded down her shirt, quizzed her about her marital standing, and informed her she was stunning, utilizing an Italian phrase she needed to ask her mother and father to interpret.
McGrath did not say the governor made sexual contact along with her however thought his habits was sexual harassment.
She recalled Cuomo kissing her on the brow and gripping her firmly across the sides whereas posing for a photograph at a 2019 workplace Christmas celebration.
Alyssa McGrath (pictured) is considered one of two aides who’ve come ahead to accuse the governor of harassment
Sherry Vill, 55
Sherry Vill, 55, accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct throughout a press convention along with her lawyer Gloria Allred on Monday.
She alleges Cuomo grabbed her face and kissed her ‘aggressively and in a sexual method’ on each cheeks in Might 2017 whereas he was touring her house in Greece, close to Rochester, as he inspected native flood injury.
Vill, who mentioned she felt uncomfortable on the time, shared a picture her daughter took on the day that confirmed Cuomo holding her face as he kissed her cheek and her lawyer held up a number of photographs exhibiting the Governor inside her house.
The identical photographs seem on Cuomo’s Flickr account, in addition to a number of others that present him kissing and greeting residents as he toured the city.
Not one of the ladies within the different photographs have accused the governor of inappropriate habits or wrongdoing.
Sherry Vill, 55, accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct on Monday. Vill, who mentioned she felt uncomfortable on the time, shared a picture her daughter took on the day that confirmed Cuomo holding her face as he kissed her cheek
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