Andrew Cuomo rebuts 'sex-harass' report with shots of him kissing, hugging

Andrew Cuomo rebuts ‘sex-harass’ report with shots of him kissing, hugging

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday attempted to rebut a damning official report that found he sexually harassed several women in violation of state and federal law — with reels of photos of him kissing, hugging and touching people through the years, including Bill Clinton and Robert De Niro.

The apparent attempts to minimize the conduct came as Cuomo pushed back on the report compiled by independent investigators retained by state Attorney General Letitia James.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo shares an intimate moment with former President Bill Clinton.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo shares an intimate moment with former President Bill Clinton.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo goes for a kiss on a woman’s cheeks.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a woman on her cheek.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo sneaks behind to kiss a man.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo sneaks behind a man to kiss his cheeks.
Accuser Anna Ruch with Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2019.
Accuser Anna Ruch with Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2019.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo gets intimate with a woman.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo gets a kiss from his mother, Matilda Cuomo.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a woman.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a woman.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a man’s cheeks.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a man’s cheeks.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a man's cheek.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a man’s cheek.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo greets a man.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo greets Rev. Calvin Butts of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem.

“I’ve been making the same gesture in public all my life,” said Cuomo in a video response, specifically addressing his grabbing Anna Ruch by the face and kissing her cheek without her consent at a wedding in 2019.

“I actually learned it from my mother and from my father,” he continued, referring to the late, three-term Gov. Mario Cuomo. “Indeed there are hundreds, if not thousands of photos of me using the exact same gesture.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo talks to a man.
Gov. Cuomo said in the video he learned his “gesture” from his parents, including his father, late, three-term New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, right.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo touches a man's chins.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo touches a man’s chin.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo touches a boy’s chin.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo cups a boy’s face.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo touches a girl’s cheeks.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo holds a young girl’s face in his hands.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo touches an old man’s chin.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo touches a veteran’s chin.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a man's cheek while touching his head.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a man’s cheek while touching his head.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo touches a man.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo embraces former NY Rep. Charlie Rangel.

As Cuomo described getting touchy with “black and white, young and old, straight to LGBTQ, powerful people, friends, strangers [and] people who I meet on the street,” the video cut to a montage of still photos of him kissing, embracing or touching people from all walks of life.

They included De Niro, former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore and former President Bill Clinton — who saw his own political career hit the skids amid a sex scandal.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he learned how to kiss from his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses former Vice President Al Gore on on the cheek.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a woman’s forehead.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a woman’s forehead.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a woman’s hand.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a woman’s hand.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo embraces and kisses a woman.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo embraces and kisses a woman.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo smooches a woman’s cheek.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo smooches a woman’s cheek.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo hugs a man.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo hugs a man.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo touches a man’s cheeks.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo touches a man’s cheeks.

During the video, Cuomo also announced the online release of a rebuttal report authored by lawyer Rita Glavin.

But of that report’s 85 pages, eight were dedicated to more photos of Cuomo kissing or embracing prominent figures, including former President Barack Obama, former first lady, New York senator and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie — who said Tuesday it was time for Cuomo to face impeachment proceedings.

And another 15 pages featured photos of other prominent politicians — including President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer — in similar positions, in an apparent bid to show that the behavior was not limited to him.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses Al Sharpton.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses Rev. Al Sharpton.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo hugs a man.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo hugs a union member.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo receives a kiss from a woman.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo receives a kiss from a woman.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo comforts a woman outside.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo comforts a woman.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a woman’s cheek.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a woman’s cheek.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo touches a woman's head.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo touches a woman’s head.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a woman on stage.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses a woman on stage.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo embraces a man.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo embraces Robert De Niro.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo smiles while being touched by an older woman.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo smiles while being touched by an older woman.
A man kisses Gov. Andrew Cuomo on his cheek.
Current state AG Letitia James and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. with Gov. Andrew Cuomo in an undated photo.

When married mom-of-three Sherry Vill accused Cuomo earlier this year of forcibly kissing her during a tour of her storm-damaged Greece, NY, home, Glavin issued a similar statement, saying in part, “During times of crisis, the Governor has frequently sought to comfort New Yorkers with hugs and kisses.”

To support the claim, Glavin included a link to the governor’s Flickr account, which included 38 photos of Cuomo’s trip to Greece — just one of which showed Cuomo kissing someone.

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