Bill Clinton advised Cuomo on sex scandal

July 10, 2022 Najuma Wilkinson US 0

FILE – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference at New York’s Yankee Stadium on July 26, 2021. A report released Thursday, July 7, 2022, by an independent law firm hired to investigate details surrounding Cuomo’s book deal, found that he improperly used state employees and resources for the $5.1 million book deal in 2020. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

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UPDATED 4:20 PM PT – Sunday, July 10, 2022

A political insider revealed that disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) sought the advice of his friend and former President Bill Clinton in 2021 on how to spin sexual misconduct allegations.

Cuomo was subject to a state sexual harassment probe following accusations by 11 women who worked for the governor. Democrat strategist Lis Smith revealed that Cuomo had not garnered sympathy from advisors following claims of sexual harassment. The allegations included a range of inappropriate behavior including that he alluded to wanting to engage in sexual relations with a young female staffer, forced kissing, unwanted sexual advances and more.

The exception was Bill Clinton who had been accused of sexual harassment himself. He advised Cuomo to deny allegations and continue his term. Within a week of the allegations, Cuomo ended up announcing his resignation with two weeks notice. He has yet to run for office since then.

“The sole exception was former President Bill Clinton who told him that he needed to go out and address the people of New York directly to state that his fate was in their hands not the politicians,” Smith wrote. “The consensus among advisers was that unless Clinton, with his legendary political skills, was willing to do the mea culpa himself, it would do more harm than good.”

The former president had been impeached in 1998 for lying under oath about the Monica Lewinsky affair. Clinton was acquitted by the Senate and continued to serve out the remainder of his second term.