He said:
“In my mind I’ve never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn’t realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn. There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate. And I should have. No excuses.”
She said:
While she was on duty, he traced his finger down her back and asked if he could kiss her. "I remember just freezing, being, in the back of my head; I'm like, oh, how do I say no politely?... I felt completely violated." State Trooper
He asked whether she was monogamous and what she thought of age differences in relationships. “I’m so upset and so confused.” Charlotte Bennett
"Any time her touched me I felt like it was inappropriate. He was my boss, let alone the Governor of the State of New York, so I definitely felt he abused his power and definitely knew that he has this presence about him, very intimidating." Executive Assistant 1
"I then felt a lot of emotions around Cuomo's inappropriate touching of my body, mostly shock and anger... We were there because, you know, the work that I had been doing and have to continue to do... (It was) a moment of like, disempowerment." State Entity Employee No. 1
She extended her hand. Instead, he slid his fingers across her chest, over letters printed on her shirt, and leaned in so their cheeks touched. I felt “absolutely humiliated. It’s very difficult even talking about it. I was absolutely profoundly humiliated and appalled. I was in shock. Very negative feelings is the best way to describe it.” Virginia Limmiatis
He once kissed her on the lips after a meeting. “I was in shock, but I kept walking… (it was) “deeply humiliating on some level.”I had worked my whole life to get to a point where I could be taken seriously and I wasn't being taken seriously and I worked so hard to be some little doll for the Governor of New York and that was deeply humiliating." Lindsey Boylan
He looked down her blouse while she was taking notes. "I wanted to believe that I'm up there helping out because of my good work. And I felt like if I said that to them, not only would I be embarrassed; I would, like almost discredit myself." Alyssa McGrath
He referred to her as "sponge." She found the nickname "embarrassing... condescending, demeaning." Kaitlin
I felt "icky because it sucked that (I) was nominally there on this Fellowship that was supposed to be recognizing (my) intellect and (my) credentials and (I) was supposed to be influencing policy according to this Fellowship program. But, then like in practice (I) was eye candy... My family and loved ones observed that I was not doing so well. I left to go to work for Cornell on my own accord... At the time I viewed it as a lateral move and that I has failed. I couldn't survive." Ana List
"You make that own look good," he said as she swabbed his nose for a coronavirus test. "I felt that in my professional standing I should share theses facts, whatever they are, in order to support if there are nay other women." State Entity Employee No. 2
A vomit emoji was how she ended a text message in which she shared photos of him holding her face at a wedding. She had never met him previously and said he touched her back and asked to kiss her. “I’m so pissed.” Anna Ruch
And, the fact that Roberta Kaplan, chairperson of the Time’s Up board of directors, chose to advise Cuomo on efforts to discredit his accusers – that is beyond unconscionable. Despite the fact she has since resigned, how can Time’s Up continue to claim they are a “safe place” to come to for help?
There are no excuses.
Yes, Governor Cuomo there are generational and cultural shifts. But that line – it has not been redrawn. It has always been there. Men with dignity have known where it lies for generations. While brave women have stepped up to call out men like you, men who have chosen to violate that line - over and over and over.
There are no excuses.
There never have been.
Jean
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