Gov. Andrew Cuomo talking August 10, 2021.
Supply: The State of New York
Simply six months after he resigned from workplace in shame over sexual harassment allegations, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo seemed to be hinting at a political comeback in remarks at a Brooklyn church on Sunday.
The Democrat made a campaign-like cease at a Brooklyn church Sunday, delivering a speech by which he condemned “cancel tradition.” The general public look, his first since leaving workplace, got here after Cuomo’s marketing campaign launched a digital and tv promoting marketing campaign pushing the same message: He was pushed from workplace unfairly.
Cuomo quoted the Bible a number of occasions as he described his travails then went on the offensive to assault the “political sharks” in Albany who, he mentioned, “smelled blood” and exploited the scenario for political acquire.
“The actions towards me had been prosecutorial misconduct,” Cuomo mentioned, repeating a theme he has pushed from the outset. “They used cancel tradition to successfully overturn an election.”
The Democrat resigned in August, days after an impartial probe discovered he sexually harassed almost a dozen ladies and that he and aides labored to retaliate towards an accuser. On Sunday, Cuomo acknowledged his habits wasn’t acceptable however rapidly added that nothing he did violated the regulation.
“I did not respect how briskly the views modified,” he mentioned. “I’ve realized a strong lesson and paid a really excessive value for studying that lesson. God is not completed with me but.”
Cuomo hasn’t mentioned he is operating for workplace, however continues to be sitting on a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign conflict chest he might use to finance one other run.
A number of district attorneys in New York mentioned they discovered Cuomo’s accusers “credible,” however mentioned the out there proof wasn’t robust sufficient to press felony fees towards him. Final month, a New York state trooper sued him claiming he brought about her extreme psychological anguish and emotional misery by touching her inappropriately and making suggestive feedback. A Cuomo spokesperson referred to as the swimsuit a “low cost money extortion.”
Cuomo used his platform Sunday principally to sentence a social media-fueled local weather he mentioned is rising and harmful.
“Any accusation can set off condemnation with out details or due course of,” he mentioned. “We’re a nation of legal guidelines, not a nation of tweets. Woe unto us if we enable that to develop into our new justice system.”
Returning a number of occasions to a Biblical metaphor of crossing a bridge to explain his journey, Cuomo hinted he will not keep out of the highlight.
“The Bible teaches perseverance, it teaches us to get off the mat,” he mentioned. “They broke my coronary heart however they did not break my spirit. I wish to take the vitality that might have made me bitter and make us higher.”
