On Tuesday, the New York Attorney General Letitia James of the Working Families Party announced that independent investigators found that Democrat New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo violated multiple state and federal laws, as well as sexually harassed 11 women.
“The investigation found that Governor Cuomo’s sexual harassment of multiple women and his and the Executive Chamber’s retaliation against a former employee for coming forward with her claims of sexual harassment violated multiple state and federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law, and 42 U.S. Code § 1983, in addition to the Executive Chamber’s own equal employment policies,” the Attorney General’s Office announced in a press release.
“This is a sad day for New York because independent investigators have concluded that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and, in doing so, broke the law,” said Attorney General James. “I am grateful to all the women who came forward to tell their stories in painstaking detail, enabling investigators to get to the truth. No man — no matter how powerful — can be allowed to harass women or violate our human rights laws, period.”
Previously, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham blasted Cuomo’s then-alleged sexual misconduct, saying to the Washington Post in March 2021, “I’m, frankly, in that group of elected leaders, that you believe the individual, you give real credit and credibility there, if you don’t, we are revictimizing brave men and women who come forward.”
“I think that it’s troubling enough that that will be a significant part of the discussion But, it’s premature for me, to determine what governors, at this point, when you have an independent, transparent investigation occurring,” she said. “I don’t want to jump ahead…But, we will have a very serious conversation about what we ought to do, and what standard we expect all elected leaders, right, to adhere to and stand by.”
But the very next month in April 2021, revelations came to the fore showing Lujan Grisham had paid off an ex-staffer, James Hallinan, at least $62,500 after he accused her of pouring water over his crotch area and then grabbing his penis.
The news of Lujan Grisham’s alleged sexual misconduct, which appears to now have been confirmed via the settlement, led to the sudden resignation of a staffer who tried to quiet the alleged victim. Lujan Grisham claims the hush money payment was because she didn’t want to handle it during the pandemic.
In 2018, before Lujan Grisham became governor, another man named Eddie Dehart came forward accusing the Governor of similar conduct at a 2005 party, which led to the crumbling of Dehart’s relationship.
“In 2005, we have a party at my girlfriend’s house. It was an artisan party to showcase some art in Santa Fe and help the artists out to sell their products…During the game, it was Michelle’s shot. And she walked around the pool table and walked by me. When she walked by me she grabbed my crotch,” Dehart said in the video. He said that Lujan Grisham exclaimed to his girlfriend that “you have a man here.”
Lujan Grisham is noticeably silent amid the confirmation that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is a confirmed sexual predator, which speaks volumes as just a few months ago, she was sternly condemning his then-alleged actions.
The New Mexico Governor, despite the multiple men who have come forward, is running for reelection. Lujan Grisham chairs the “Democratic Governors Association.”
Ironically, Lujan Grisham’s silence comes after her New Mexico House majority leader, Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton resigned in disgrace admid revelations of apparent racketeering, money laundering, and kickbacks. Before Williams Stapleton resigned, Lujan Grisham said, “I will say that public confidence in government is seriously damaged by even the appearance of impropriety, or illegal activity, which is why public officials must always hold themselves to the highest possible standard of behavior. New Mexicans expect and deserve elected officials who, regardless of party, will put the people before themselves.”
