Cuomo's Fall From Grace Accelerates
Lindsey Boylan, on left, is a former aide of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on right. Boylan is one of three women who have publicly accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct.
In the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo received praise for his handling of the situation in New York state. However, that praise was short-lived. Owing largely to a recent string of sexual harassment allegations and new information about his mishandling of pandemic policy public opinion is quickly shifting against the Governor.
In March 2020, likely the most crucial point in time for COVID-19 containment efforts, state governments and the federal government were taking wildly different approaches to protect American lives. While leaders such as former President Donald Trump have been highly criticized for last responses and failing to take the virus seriously at first, leaders such as Cuomo were initially praised. Acknowledged for his “wisdom and competence” and for his “straight-talking approach” that contrasted well with Trump’s rambling and lengthy manner of speech, Cuomo served as a strong foil to Trump and a model for a “real leader.”
Yet this opinion of Cuomo has not been unanimous. Some critics claim that Cuomo’s policies have put the elderly at risk. Specifically, critics point to New York State’s requirement that recovering patients with COVID-19 be accepted by nursing homes. Nearly 5300 nursing home patients were dead by May 2020 and critics blame this policy. Cuomo implicitly admitted to his error by reversing the policy, requiring patients to test negative before being sent to nursing homes. However, his chorus of critics believe that this reversal came too late.
Recently, the FBI and Brooklyn federal prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into Cuomo’s nursing home policies after the realization that his administration hid the full number of COVID-19-related nursing home deaths for months. The Cuomo administration was forced to disclose that the COVID-19 death toll for nursing home residents reached 15,000 when the State had previously stated that only 8,500 nursing home residents died from the virus. This number happened to not include residents who died after they were taken to the hospital.
Now, Cuomo faces sexual harassment allegations as well. So far, three women have spoken out against Cuomo. Lindsey Boylan, a former administration aide to Cuomo, published an essay that recounted numerous uncomfortable interactions with the governor. The governor’s office said that Ms. Boylan’s claims were not true, and did not call for an independent review of her allegations. But only a few days after Boylan’s accusation, a former Aide to Cuomo, Charlotte Bennett, also accused Cuomo of sexual harassment through questions about her sex life. To this accusation, Cuomo has said the following: “I never made advances toward Ms. Bennett nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate.” A third woman, Anna Ruch, has come forward as well. Rather than meeting through work, Ruch encountered Cuomo at a wedding they attended in September 2019. She claims that Cuomo had put his hand on her lower back during his toast.
In response to these allegations, Cuomo has expressed his regret and apologized for his actions. However, in response to New Yorkers asking for his resignation, Cuomo said he will not resign from office. Cuomo asks for people to “wait for the facts.” These facts, Cuomo believes, will be revealed from an investigation from the Attorney State General, Letitia James.
But it may be too little too late for the politician’s spiraling career — a poll conducted by the Siena College Research Institute this week pinned Cuomo's overall approval rating at 56%, down from 77% last April. Moreover, top Democrats including New York Senators Kristen Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer have called on the Governor to resign.
Cuomo’s rise at the beginning of the pandemic was meteoric. His fall, however, is proving to be just as great - and just as rapid.