"Have You Ever Been with an Older Man?" Consecutive Sexual Scandals... The Wingless Fall of a 'Corona Hero'

Another former aide has come forward accusing Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York State, of sexual harassment, local media including The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 27th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Andrew Cuomo, the 63-year-old Governor of New York State and once considered a potential Democratic presidential candidate in the United States, has become the center of controversy due to a series of sexual misconduct allegations.

On the 27th, Charlotte Bennett (25), who was Cuomo's health policy advisor, revealed in an interview with The New York Times (NYT) that "Governor Cuomo asked me inappropriate questions related to my sex life."

According to the NYT, Cuomo asked Bennett inappropriate questions such as "Do you only have relationships with one person?" and "Have you ever had sex with an older man?" On June 5 of last year, in the governor's office, he also asked about his views on age differences in romantic relationships, saying, "I am open to relationships with women in their 20s."

Bennett also said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuomo confided in her about his loneliness. Bennett recounted that Cuomo said, "No one can hug me," and asked, "Who was the last person I hugged?" When she tried to avoid the question by saying, "I miss being held by my parents," he replied, "No, I mean actually hugging someone."

Bennett said, "I understood that Governor Cuomo wanted to sleep with me. It was terribly uncomfortable and frightening," adding, "I thought about how to get out of it and felt that my job as a secretary was over." Bennett left the governor's office in November last year.

Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York State, USA, embroiled in allegations of hiding the number of COVID-19 deaths
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 24th (local time), Cuomo faced another scandal when allegations of sexual harassment against an aide surfaced. Lindsey Boylan (36), who worked as Cuomo's economic policy advisor, revealed on her social media that "he touched my waist and limbs and also gave unwanted kisses."

She also claimed that in October 2017, Cuomo proposed playing "strip poker" on a plane and compared another aide to her by saying, "My ex-girlfriend and Boylan could be sisters."

Cuomo has denied all allegations against him. On the 27th, he told the NYT, "I believed I was like a mentor to Bennett and did not intend any inappropriate behavior." He also denied Boylan's accusations as "simple lies."

However, the consecutive sexual misconduct scandals have cast a red light on Cuomo's political career. He was praised for transparent information disclosure and swift response during daily briefings at the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. But recently, allegations emerged that Cuomo downplayed and concealed the number of COVID-19 deaths in New York nursing homes, leading the NYT to analyze that he is facing serious political setbacks.