NEW YORK – The Justice Division has reached a settlement with the state of New York for a sequence of reforms to guard ladies from sexually hostile work environments.
The settlement stems from the sexual misconduct allegations that in the end led to the downfall of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.Â
When Cuomo was pressured out of workplace in a sexual harassment scandal, there have been 11 ladies pointing fingers at him, a few of whom weren’t even state staff. Now, the Division of Justice says that was the tip of the iceberg.
The DOJ settlement with New York state discovered that whereas governor, Cuomo subjected at the least 13 ladies to a sexually hostile work atmosphere, saying they confronted “unwelcome, non-consensual sexual contact,” “unwelcome sexual feedback and gender-based nicknames,” and “feedback on their bodily appearances or preferential remedy based mostly on bodily appearances.”
The report additionally Cuomo’s stated senior employees had been “conscious of his conduct and retaliated in opposition to 4 of the ladies” he harassed.
The evaluate largely reitierates the findings of the civil investigation by New York Lawyer Common Letitia James. Her workplace discovered that Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 ladies and created a “hostile” work atmosphere for them.
Cuomo resigned per week after the state’s report was launched.
“I feel that given the circumstances, one of the simplest ways I might help now could be if I step apart and let authorities get again to governing,” he stated on the time.
Watch Marcia Kramer’s report
Gov. Kathy Hochul stated when she took workplace she took fast steps to make sure a protected work atmosphere.Â
“The second I took workplace, I knew I wanted to root out the tradition of harassment that had beforehand plagued the Government Chamber and implement robust insurance policies to advertise a protected office for all staff, and took fast motion to take action. I’m happy that the U.S. Division of Justice has acknowledged the importance of these efforts, and stay up for partnering with them as we proceed to construct upon that success,” Hochul stated.Â
“This stuff occurred. This stuff occurred to me and different ladies. After which an enormous forms tried to bury us for telling the reality. By no means once more will I ever let anybody or any system hurt me and different ladies that approach,” Cuomo accuser Lindsey Boylan wrote on X.Â
However Cuomo’s lawyer insisted her shopper didn’t sexually harass anybody.Â
“The DOJ ‘investigation’ was based mostly fully on the NYS Lawyer Common’s deeply flawed, inaccurate, biased, and deceptive report,” Cuomo lawyer Rita Glavin stated.Â
“We’re hopeful that this settlement with the DOJ will result in lasting change that stops some other lady from having to endure what our shopper has endured,” the lawyer for Cuomo accuser Charlotte Bennett stated.Â
A number of folks near Cuomo insisted that it was a “settlement with out an investigation.”
Cuomo’s spokesman Wealthy Azzopardi stated the settlement “is not well worth the paper it is printed on.”Â