“I never meant to cause pain. I apologize,” said Cuomo. FilAm women share their thoughts
By Marivir R. Montebon
New York – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo today apologized in public for the sexual harassment accusations lodged against him by two former employees of his office. In a press conference, he said he was sorry for having caused pain to anyone and that it was not his intention to make some feel uncomfortable.
“I never touched anyone inappropriately. And I ask New Yorkers to wait for the result of the investigation by the Attorney General’s office and not form an opinion before that. I will fully cooperate in the investigation,” he said in his March 3 presser.
The accusation on sexual harassment fueled the mounting call for Cuomo’s resignation, adding to last week’s controversy that the governor’s office underreported cases of covid19-related deaths from nursing homes.
Fil-Am leader Ledy Almadin said that with three women coming forward, the AG needs to do a full investigation. “The law applies to everyone,” said Almadin, an accountant and formerly president of the nonprofit organization PAFCOM in Jersey City. “A common citizen gets thrown to jail for a simple act of offense, why should he be exempt to abide the law? By saying that he’s not aware of pain he caused means he doesn’t deny doing those things to these women. He’s a very smart man. I don’t buy that he’s not aware of the effects of his behavior on these women.”
“I am disappointed. As a woman, it’s crazy to hear that our governor is doing malicious and unlawful things. I think he should resign when proven guilty,” said Cecile Lai, a health care worker in NYC.
Nieva Quezon Burdick, also a resident of Queens and secretary to the volunteer organization Lions Club, said that the accusation could be politically motivated. “Generally, when a man makes a move unless it is an habitual gesture, there is a fine line of intentional. I believe that women could be unaware or insensitive of these kind of advances. Then when it is sensationalized, we realized and respond by saying that I am a victim too. I am not pro-Cuomo. But timing is of the essence. Politics play a role here. Who is behind in all of these?”
Carla Mayol from Chicago shares the opinion of Burdick. “I give him the benefit of the doubt. These accusations have come out in the middle of a great leadership in fighting coronavirus. There is a saying which goes, the tree that bears fruit will be stoned.”#
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