Justice Department says Ex-NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo subjected at least 13 women to a 'sexually hostile' work environment - including unwanted contact, ogling and giving them nicknames

Andrew Cuomo 'repeatedly' harassed staff members and retaliated against those who reported it, a Department of Justice investigation has found Investigators said that Cuomo's senior staff were 'aware of his conduct and retaliated against four of the women he harassed'

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo subjected at least 13 women to a sexually hostile work environment, a DOJ investigation has found.

The disgraced ex-leader ‘repeatedly’ harassed staff members and retaliated against those who reported it, according to a document published on Friday.

Investigators found that Cuomo made ‘unwelcome, non-consensual sexual contact’ including ‘ogling; unwelcome sexual comments; gender-based nicknames; comments on their physical appearances; and/or preferential treatment based on their physical appearances’.

They also determined that Cuomo’s senior staff were ‘aware of his conduct and retaliated against four of the women he harassed.’

The findings were published in an agreement between the federal agency and the governor’s office designed to, ‘resolve the department’s claims that the executive chamber under former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo engaged in a pattern or practice of sexual harassment and retaliation’. 

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo subjected at least 13 women to a sexually hostile work environment, a DOJ investigation has found

The agreement also ratifies reforms brought in by current New York Governor Kathy Hochul designed to tackle sexual harassment in the workplace, as well as instituting further measures federal authorities deemed necessary.

The probe relied largely on a report composed by New York Attorney General Letitia James which found Cuomo had harassed or acted inappropriately 11 women in his employ.

James also found that his aides helped foster the toxic workplace, allegations echoed in the agreement. The Department of Justice report has strengthened the claims made by James’ in her earlier investigation, despite Cuomo’s continued attempts to undermine it. 

‘The Executive Chamber was aware of Cuomo’s conduct but failed to effectively remediate the harassment on a systemic level,’ the agreement states.

‘When employees attempted to raise concerns about Cuomo’s conduct to his senior staff, Cuomo’s staff failed to follow Equal Employment Opportunity policies and procedures to promptly report those allegations to the appropriate investigative body.

‘Indeed, the Executive Chamber’s response was designed only to protect Cuomo from further accusations, rather than to protect employees from sexual harassment.’

Cuomo’s successor Gov. Kathy Hochul has said she will expand her HR department and initiate reforms in a bid to avoid a repeat of Cuomo’s misconduct.  

Cuomo – hailed as a hero for much of 2020 over his cool-headed response to the COVID crisis – was once touted as a potential presidential candidate.

The sex pest allegations seemed to put paid to Cuomo’s political career – but he has been maneuvering back into the spotlight in recent months.

That sparked speculation that he was attempting to rehabilitate himself for a professional relaunch, but Friday’s report will likely further hamper his attempts to return to the spotlight. 

Cuomo’s lawyer Rita Glavin dismissed the findings of Friday’s report, saying he hadn’t been contacted for a comment and that he did not sexually harass anyone.

She told the New York Times: ‘This is nothing more than a political settlement with no investigation.’

Cuomo has sued to try and get New York State Attorney General Letitia James to release the full paperwork of her investigation into him.