Andrew Cuomo’s tried political comeback is formally underway: The run-out-of-office ex-governor launched a TV advert Monday claiming he was the sufferer of a political hit job regardless of resigning in shame.
The 30-second “Politics vs. The Legislation” advert — first reported by The Publish on Friday — takes goal at state Legal professional Basic Letitia James’ investigation that concluded the Democratic former governor harassed or mistreated 11 ladies, together with government staffers and a state trooper.
The 30-second spot strings collectively snippets from TV studies that spotlight latest selections by 5 district attorneys to not deliver felony costs towards Cuomo for sexual harassment.
“Political assaults gained. And New Yorkers misplaced a confirmed chief,” the narrator says as an image of Cuomo seems signing papers.
The advert doesn't point out that the prosecutors stated they believed the ladies’s claims have been credible, whereas concluding that they might not show costs past an affordable doubt primarily based on present regulation.
And regardless of him escaping felony prosecution, the advert doesn't dispute that Cuomo violated the civil sexual harassment coverage he championed and put in place.
“Accusations fly all over the world on the pace of sunshine, however the reality crawls at a snail’s tempo,” stated Cuomo spokesman Wealthy Azzopardi.
“We are going to proceed to speak the details to New Yorkers: The AG knowingly and willfully ignored proof of perjury, witness tampering and extortion, and hid exculpatory proof when she misled the general public in her sham report final August,” he stated.
Cuomo, by his lawyer, has lately attacked the credibility of his accusers.
The Cuomo marketing campaign account is paying for the “vital” advert purchase showing on broadcast and cable TV and digital platforms.
However critics — together with even folks near the Cuomo household — stated the previous governor, state lawyer common and federal HUD secretary ought to pack it in.
“Andrew ought to give his household, pals and New Yorkers a break — particularly the ladies victimized by his habits,” stated Allen Cappelli, who labored for Andrew’s dad, former three-term Gov. Mario Cuomo.
Certainly one of his alleged victims, former government staffer Charlotte Bennett, stated Cuomo is perpetuating his “Huge Lie” and blaming his victims.
“He has spun an online of lies and ploys so thick that maybe he's diluting himself into believing he can persuade others of his `Huge Lie,'” Bennett stated in a tweet on Sunday.
Bennett stated Cuomo “paints himself because the sufferer of a political conspiracy all whereas revictimizing these he harmed.”
“A narcissist in true type….He's solely out for himself,” he stated.
A spokesman for James responded Monday, “The one factor Andrew Cuomo has confirmed himself to be is a serial sexual harasser and a risk to ladies within the office — no TV advert can change that.”
“It’s shameful that after a number of investigations discovered Cuomo’s victims to be credible, he continues to assault their accounts quite than take accountability for his personal actions,” the lawyer common’s rep stated.
James additionally lately defended her findings on the latest state Democratic Occasion nominating conference, declaring she “won't bow” to his repeated criticisms and likening him to Donald Trump.
James’ workplace remains to be conducting a separate, felony investigation into Cuomo’s $5.1 million guide deal following allegations that he used authorities sources to put in writing, produce and edit the pandemic-era memoir.
Cuomo additionally faces inquiries for hiding the true variety of COVID-19-related nursing house deaths across the time he negotiated his guide deal.
If he's trying a political comeback, Cuomo has loads of floor to make up.
A Siena School ballot launched final week discovered a majority of New York voters aren’t shopping for his declare of innocence and suppose Cuomo is a serial sexual harasser.
A complete of 58 % of these surveyed imagine the previous pol sexually harassed a number of ladies, in comparison with 21 % of people who stated he did nothing improper.
About 80 % of voters stated Cuomo made the best determination by resigning final August — below the specter of impeachment — following James’ devastating report.
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