Andrew Cuomo accused of sexual harassment; leading liberal women refuse comment

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is denying allegations this week that he has used his position to belittle and bully critics and opponents, sexually harass an aide, and suggest she "play strip poker."

In the wake of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment, what do some of the nation’s leading liberal women have to say about the issue?

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, an outspoken supporter of women’s rights who had blasted former Senate colleague Al Franken, D-Minn., as he was ousted following his own misconduct allegations in 2018, did not respond to Fox News’ requests for comment on her home-state governor.

"There is no prize for someone who tries to hold accountable a powerful man who is good at his day job," Gillibrand, D-N.Y., told a reporter in 2019, adding that one of Franken’s accusers was a staffer. "But we should have the courage to do it anyway."

Cuomo faced a storm of accusations this week of using his political clout to bully critics and staffers, following the explosion last week of a cover-up scandal surrounding the death toll of the coronavirus outbreak in New York’s nursing homes.

Cuomo's office has denied harassment allegations by former aide Lindsey Boylan.

But Cuomo was also accused by former journalist Morgan Pehme of threatening his career, and his former spokesperson Karen Hinton accused both Cuomo and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio of using "gender domination" to assert power over women. 

The Sexual Harassment Working Group called for "an immediate independent investigation" of Cuomo.