A annoyed Andrew Cuomo spent Thursday’s mayoral debate repeatedly making an attempt to bat away sexual harassment accusations that led to his downfall as governor – and his rivals saved lobbing them.
“It was all political,” Cuomo insisted to boos within the John Jay Faculty auditorium.
However Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander wouldn’t let Cuomo wiggle free from the difficulty that led the ex-governor to resign in shame.
He dredged up the sordid accusations in opposition to Cuomo and contended the mayoral frontrunner had admitted he known as a 25-year-old staffer into his workplace, requested her whether or not she had older companion and if she was out there.
“Everybody here knows that you sexually harassed women, that you created a toxic work environment,” Lander mentioned to thundering applause.
The comptroller famous many within the debate’s viewers had been younger ladies attending CUNY. He mentioned one such lady is a valedictorian going to work on the Division of Homeless Companies.
“I don’t want to have to tell her, ‘Don’t go work at City Hall because the mayor is a sexual harasser,’” he mentioned.
“Those are just bold-faced lies,” Cuomo shot again. “It’s frightening that you can look at a camera and lie.”
Cuomo argued that experiences discovering he sexually harassed ladies had been disproven, resulting in a combative change with Lander.
“This is disqualifying, the man resigned in disgrace,” State Sen. Zellnor Myrie interjected as moderator Errol Louis of NY1 tried to get the controversy underneath management.
Cuomo, when later answering a query about public security, spoke about accountability.
“I think New Yorkers want accountability,” he mentioned. “They want accountability when people commit crimes. They want accountability when officers use excessive force. They want accountability when top brass violate their office, and they want accountability from elected officials.”
This prompted Lander to interject: “You’ve never taken responsibility for one single thing you’ve done wrong in your entire life.”
“You should try it sometime.”
— Further reporting by Craig McCarthy
