Time to Resign? Gov. Cuomo's Past Comments on Brett Kavanaugh Come Back to Bite Him in Big Way

Now that the dam has broken on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, everyone from reporters to lawmakers to state workers are stepping forward to detail allegations of targeted political intimidation and verbal abuse that date back to well before the start of the pandemic.

In addition to the accusations against Cuomo of behind the scenes bullying of political opponents, the man once dubbed the “Luv Guv” by the New York media now also stands accused of sexual harassment. As my colleague Nick Arama reported yesterday, former Cuomo aide Lindsay Boylan has stepped forward to provide additional details on the sexual harassment claims she first made against Cuomo in December.

Among other things, Boylan claimed that Cuomo suggested they “play strip poker”, and would “go out of his way to touch me on my lower back, arms and legs.” She said one time he kissed her on the lips as she tried to leave his office, even though he knew she was a married woman and was not interested.

“Governor Andrew Cuomo has created a culture within his administration where sexual harassment and bullying is so pervasive that it is not only condoned but expected,” Boylan alleged.

For anyone in New York state who listened to Cuomo’s comments in 2018 during the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh (as well as statements he made before that), hearing these allegations from Boylan might come as a shock, because – at the time of the hearings – Cuomo was quite matter-of-fact in how he felt about people who didn’t believe all women:

“We believe you and will fight for you.” –@NYGovCuomo pic.twitter.com/yaTnidpIzD

— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) February 25, 2021

Of the Trump administration, here’s more of what Cuomo had to say about believing Blasey Ford in 2018:

“There is a disrespect for women that this administration chronically exemplifies. After the Me Too movement, they did absolutely nothing when it came to sexual harassment. They have always diminished the charges of women. Always. Consistently. And they’re doing it again.”

This from the same guy whose handlers are now essentially calling Boylan a liar. Watch:

. @NYGovCuomo Believed all women, no matter what.
Except those who accuse him.
Unreal pic.twitter.com/L9KJ6MNCIb

— Stephanie Hamill (@STEPHMHAMILL) February 25, 2021

New Yorkers need a Governor who stands up for women and survivors of sexual abuse. Republican Nominee for Governor Marc Molinaro refuses to say if he does or does not support elevating Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. That's not leadership, it's cowardice. pic.twitter.com/8DMgwja6Tm

— Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) October 2, 2018

And back in 2013, he demanded a New York state assemblyman resign or be expelled after charges of sexual harassment were made:

#ThrowbackThursday Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this about Assemblyman Vito Lopez in 2013: pic.twitter.com/VIIRLwCKG0

— Nicole Malliotakis (@NMalliotakis) February 25, 2021

Also during the Kavanaugh hearings, Cuomo said Kavanaugh should take a lie detector test. But when asked this week whether Cuomo himself would take one, his office didn’t comment:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to face a lie-detector test over sex assault allegations against him — but wouldn’t say Wednesday if he’ll heed his own words in the wake of claims against him made by a former aide.

[…]

“Here is one basic fact that badly hurts Judge Kavanaugh: Why won’t he take a polygraph? Dr. Ford did,” Cuomo said at the time.

“If he does not take a polygraph test, it is the ultimate, ‘he said, she said.’ “

So what’ll it be, Gov. Cuomo? Will you take that lie detector test, resign, or wait and see if you end up facing censure or impeachment over this and the nursing home scandal? After all, we must believe all women, right? Your rules and all.