Ninth Woman Stepped Forward, Accuses Cuomo of Unwanted Kiss

"Governor Cuomo's Major Agenda Proposal" (CC BY 2.0) by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York

Another woman has stepped forward and accused the New York Governor of sexual misconduct, making her the ninth accuser of Cuomo. 

Sherry Vill, a 55-year-old woman, accused Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual misconduct that happened in 2017. 

According to Vill, the governor grabbed her face and kissed her cheeks in front of her home last 2017. 

Vill made a statement during a virtual press conference stating, “I know the difference between an innocent gesture and a sexual one.” She added, “I never felt as uncomfortable as I did the day Governor Cuomo came to my house. His actions were very overly sexual, highly inappropriate, and disrespectful to my family and me.”

The woman added that the governor told her she was beautiful, and he acted in a “highly flirtatious and inappropriate manner.” Cuomo visited her home in Greece, New York, to survey flood damage. 

According to Vill’s lawyer, Attorney Gloria Allred, the woman was married at the time of the alleged incident. 

Allred said, “For years she wanted to report what Governor Cuomo did to her, but some members of her family discouraged her from filing a complaint because they wanted to protect her and feared that if she made what happened to her public that the Governor might use his power to retaliate against her and her family.”

Vill’s lawyer continued, “After our press conference today, we plan to contact the New York Attorney General’s office in order to inform them that Sherry is willing to cooperate in the investigation that is currently being conducted into numerous allegations of sexual harassment by the Governor.”

In addition to these allegations, Vill’s attorney also showed what appeared to be an image of Cuomo smooching Vill, which was captured on that same day in 2017.

Meanwhile, Cuomo’s lawyer, Rita Glavin, pushed back on the accusation that Cuomo behaved inappropriately during the visit. Glavin defended Cuomo, arguing that the governor often greets people with hugs and kisses as a gesture of “comfort.” Glavin also shared a link to pictures showing Cuomo interacting with other residents on the same day of the alleged incident. 

Glavin also said in a statement that during times of crisis, the New York governor would frequently seek to comfort New Yorkers with hugs and kisses. “As I have said before, the Governor has greeted both men and women with hugs, a kiss on the cheek, forehead, or hand for the past forty years,” Glavin said. 

The ninth accuser also added that she received a signed letter from Cuomo as well as photographs of their meeting at her home. 

In response to this, Glavin said more than 30 people received a “nearly identical follow-up form letter.” She added that it is customary for the governor’s office to follow up after an event with photos or other communication.

The New York governor is facing a growing number of sexual harassment allegations. This started with his former aide, Lindsay Boylan, who alleged that Cuomo attempted to kiss her in his office, which the governor denied. 

Cuomo also added that he never touched anyone inappropriately and that he apologized to anyone whom he made feel uncomfortable in the workplace. 

At present, New York attorney general Letitia James is handling the investigation of sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. 

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