Three attorneys for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke to the media Friday afternoon to address the state attorney general's report that concluded the governor sexually harassed 11 women in the workplace.
Attorneys Paul Fishman from Arnold and Porter LLC, Mitra Hormozi from Walden Mocht and Haran LLP and Rita Glavin from Glavin PLLC present Cuomo's case. The lawyers cited concerns of "inaccurate" or "not sufficiently thorough" elements of the investigation, and asked the attorney general's office to provide access to interview transcripts from witnesses to look over.
"I'm a former federal prosecutor and I know the difference between putting together a case against a target versus doing independent fact finding with an open mind," Glavin said. "There has been no open minded fact finding in this investigation. This investigation was conducted in a manner to support a predetermined narrative."
Cuomo has repeatedly denied all of the accusations, yet he could face criminal investigations in four counties. Additionally, the sheriff's office in Albany said Friday it received a criminal complaint from a former staffer of Cuomo's alleging the governor groped her at the Executive Mansion.
Glavin questioned the credibility of this aide's allegations during the virtual conference. She said that the unnamed aide's description of a brief encounter with Cuomo is contradicted by emails and other "documentary evidence" from that day. Glavin spoke about a timeline of the incident, in which she claims the aide was "joking and eating snacks" as she spent hours at the residence.
"This woman's story, which is stated as fact in that report, is false," Glavin said. "The documentary evidence does not support what she said. What is disturbing to me is that the two investigators did not show that evidence to you. They ignored it. Ask them, why?"
Glavin stated that Lindsey Boylan, one of Cuomo's accusers, left her job in his office after being confronted with a "number of complaints" from other employees, rather than leaving because of sexual harassment. The unnamed Trooper #1, who alleges Cuomo sexually harassed her, was transferred to his security detail to up "diversity," Glavin said.
Fishman also questioned the credibility of methods used by the investigators. He and Hormozi represented about 18 or 20 witnesses who were interviewed by the attorney general's team, and some "left those interviews feeling as if the questions were framed in a way to push them to particular conclusions about people," he said.
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Glavin Denies Sexual Harassment Allegations from Former Aide While at Executive Mansion
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's attorney Rita Glavin questioned the credibility of allegations from one former aide to the governor who claims he groped her at the Executive Mansion.
Glavin said that the unnamed aide's description of a brief encounter while alone with Cuomo at the mansion, in which she alleges he reached his hand under her shirt and touched her breast, is contradicted by emails and other "documentary evidence" from that day. Glavin spoke about a timeline of the incident, in which she claims the aide was "joking and eating snacks" as she spent hours at the residence.
"This woman's story, which is stated as fact in that report, is false," Glavin said. "The documentary evidence does not support what she said. What is disturbing to me is that the two investigators did not show that evidence to you. They ignored it. Ask them, why?"
Fishman Says Some Witnesses Interviewed by Attorney General Felt Questions Were 'Framed'
Paul Fishman said he and another lawyer of Cuomo's represented about 18 or 20 witnesses who interviewed by members of the New York attorney general's investigative team, and some "left those interviews feeling as if the questions were framed in a way to push them to particular conclusions about people."
Fishman did not say how many of the clients felt this way or elaborate on how they believed the investigators' questions were framed, but stated that the witnesses thought the line of questioning wasn't "sufficiently open ended" in an investigation "that would be looking for whatever information people had to provide."
Fishman renewed earlier calls for the attorney general's office to pass along transcripts from the 179 interviews that were reportedly conducted throughout the investigation.
Glavin Says Cuomo Transferred Unnamed Trooper to Detail for More 'Diversity'
Rita Glavin, one of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's lawyers, said during a press conference Friday that the governor transferred the unnamed Trooper #1 who alleges he sexually harassed her to increase the "diversity" of his security detail.
Glavin said the trooper impressed the governor upon meeting him briefly, and requested that she be added to his mostly-male detail after speaking to a colleague about her character.
Cuomo plans to address the allegation from Trooper #1 himself "soon," Glavin said.
Cuomo Lawyer Says Lindsey Boylan Didn't Leave Job Because of Sexual Harassment
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's attorney Rita Glavin said that Lindsey Boylan left her job with the governor after being "confronted with a number of complaints" from other employees, rather than leaving because of sexual harassment.
Glavin said that Boylan was called to meet with the governor's counsel in September of 2020 to discuss the issues, but she quickly announced her resignation upon hearing the complaints.
Boylan called the governor's counsel and Cuomo a couple days later to ask for her job back, but she was declined, Glavin said.
Cuomo Attorney Asks Attorney General's Office to Share Investigation Transcripts
Paul Fishman, an attorney for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, requested during a press conference Friday that the state attorney general's office turn over the interview transcripts from investigation participants.
Fishman said that the witnesses themselves and their lawyers haven't had the chance to review their transcripts.
Fishman and another attorney for the governor, Rita Glavin, also said that people implicated by the report's finding weren't informed about the conclusion before its release.
"We weren't given any advance notice about when the report would be released, its findings," Glavin said.
