Former Aide Says Cuomo Hugged Her in 'Inappropriate' Hotel Room Embrace

[Polybius]

Source: NBC New York

Karen Hinton, once one of NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo's top aides and consultants in his days as HUD secretary, is speaking out with new allegations that Cuomo hugged her in an "inappropriate" and "unethical" embrace in a California hotel room 21 years ago.

Hinton says the then-Cabinet member made a pass at her during a meeting that was supposed to be about a news conference. She says Cuomo hugged her - and she says she could physically feel he was sexually aroused.

"He started asking me personal questions. I was uncomfortable with that conversation. So I stood up to leave and he walked across from his couch and embraced me intimately. It was not just a hug. It was an intimate embrace. I pulled away. He brought me back. I pulled away again and I said 'look I need some sleep, I am going,'" Hinton told News 4 in her first TV interview about the incident.

"It was inappropriate. We both were married. I worked for him and it was too much to make it so personal and intimate," she said.

Read more: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/two-more-former-aides-accuse-cuomo-of-inappropriate-behavior/2928705/

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Cuomo's Director Of Communications called her a "known antagonist," but Cuomo praised Hinton in his 2014 book "All Things Possible," calling her "one of his stars." Video in link.

[spooky3]

1. There are more reports of workplace problems here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cuomo-toxic-workplace/2021/03/06/7f7c5b9c-7dd3-11eb-b3d1-9e5aa3d5220c_story.html

[JI7]

2. Something about all this feels strange

[elleng]

53. yes

[MisterNiceKitty]

54. True that - 21 years ago &

He's currently in his 3rd term as governor

[truthisfreedom]

3. 45 was accused by 25 women of rape, assault, groping, an endless list of offenses

Republicans don't get to talk about Cuomo.

[eShirl]

5. No, but women get to talk about him.

[Layzeebeaver]

4. I sense a "Frankening" in progress.

[jaxexpat]

6. As do I. Too many details emerging in a feeding frenzyesque timeline.

I have yet to see any advantage of Franken's supporters throwing in with Franken's accusers. Will this also play out as a net loss to the cause like that fiasco did? It's hard to judge when healing outweighs the wounds(or the scars).

[cstanleytech]

7. Maybe, maybe not. I think everyone involved (including Cuomo) should agree to go under oath

and sign affidavits and the ones that blink and refuse will be extremely telling.

[Layzeebeaver]

9. This

[LisaL]

12. 21 years ago he supposedly gave someone a hug.

He might not even remember any of it.

[JudyM]

39. This type of thing never happened to you?

You’re lucky.

It’s memorable to the woman, at least, when it happens. He resisted her attempt to pull away. We don’t know if it actually happened, but if it did, it’s a form of sexual harassment or suggestive of a hostile work environment for her.

[abqtommy]

13. I think you're right!

[True Blue American]

19. So do I!

What was she doing in his hotel room? Smart women know better.

[Lancero]

49. So, women who are victims of harassment and assault...

Are idiots who don't know any better?

Victim blaming much?

[True Blue American]

56. No one is blaming.

But when women accuse someone of a hug or even kiss yet continue to work for that person for years make it really hard for women who have actually been molested or attacked.

[Mr. Sparkle]

8. A hug !! How will she ever get over the trauma?

It is amazing she can still get up out of bed in the morning.

While i have no doubt they weren't on the same frequency, a horrible hug/embrace is part of everyday life.

[Habibi]

20. No, it really isn't. Not in a hotel room with your boss, who's

just been asking personal questions.

[Mr. Sparkle]

22. Yes, it is!

i dont care about the setting, she choose to be there of her own feel will and could leave at any time. She is a grown adult.

[Habibi]

23. So, she asked for it? nt

[Mr. Sparkle]

24. If you want to have your own imaginary conversation, go ahead.

i wont be partaking in it.

[Habibi]

32. It seems to be your imagination that's going on here. nt

[Dr. Strange]

26. That appears to be the idea, yes.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

35. This is a disgusting post.

You're getting into victim-blaming territory.

[Politicub]

27. My boss has never hugged me with a hardon, but I believe it would

be very awkward.

Work hugs, which I hope are done because of Covid, usually involve a quick embrace with the butt stuck out. We joked about this at work because some clients were huggers, and it was often uncomfortable.

We didn’t rub crotches on one another, though. Well, I didn’t anyway. Maybe that’s a “thing” that I wasn’t aware of.

[harumph]

10. 21 years ago?

I think you're going to see push back on this.

[LisaL]

11. Yep, that was a pretty far back.

NT

[sinkingfeeling]

14. What next? "He kissed me on the cheek when we were in

kindergarten, without asking."?

[Deminpenn]

15. From all accounts, Cuomo is an arrogant jerk with

authoritarian tendencies, but that doesn't make him a serial sexual harrasser.

[mackdaddy]

17. I agree, but he is single and "fishing off the company pier". He may be toast.

He has a problem that as the most powerful government employee in the state, he really CAN NOT approach or date anyone who works for the state. Period. (that only works for Republicans).

In order to find someone to date, men have to do the asking if a woman is available and possibly interested. If they say yes, all is good. If they say no, then it is or could be considered sexual harassment. Especially if the guy is in a power position.

Not exactly sure what he should do. Tinder is out, and escorts did not work too well for the former guy in this job (Spitzer). Maybe he should have tried Sugar Daddies....

[Deminpenn]

21. How many people have met their significant other at work?

I'll bet it's a lot.

For some reason, the conventional wisdom seems to be that women are saints who would never stoop to cozying up to powerful men or try to manipulate men or engage in strategy to get ahead in a world mostly controlled by men or seek revenge when they feel wronged. Women can and do.

[George II]

31. I've developed relationships with women at work several times over the years, some instigated....

...by the woman.

[Lancero]

50. More often than not, it's arrogance...

That feeds the sense of entitlement that leads to men doing this.

I'm a big strong man! Powerful man! Macho man! Women should LOVE getting any sort of attention from me!

Arrogance is the food of choice for machismo bullshit.

[Deminpenn]

51. No disagreement,

but some women are also attracted to powerful men. That feeds into it, too, imho.

[bucolic_frolic]

16. Odd to me that these all surface years afterward - they seemed not bothered at the time

IF these things occurred at all.

Time heals, but time can distort too.

[caber09]

18. Not only that..

Looks Hinton was so badly effected by her experience 21 yrs ago that she kept working for him, became a major spokesperson against harrassment in work place, yet then came back after leaving to work for him again as a consultant ..thus far the more that comes out the more outlandish the accusations get this is why we listen and let the investigation play out

[George II]

25. My two sisters-in-law hug me every time they see me. I've had co-workers "touch" me hundreds....

...if not thousands of times over the years.

Why is this now coming out 21 years after it happened?

[greenjar_01]

28. I don't even like shaking hands, to be honest

I hope one of the COVID results is that we end all workplace touching, including handshakes, period. They serve no purpose and lead to mischief.

Hugging? Oooof. I wouldn't ever even imagine hugging one of my coworkers. What in the world is going on?

[George II]

29. I'm not big on it either. I was so happy two or three years ago when the Catholic Church did away...

...with shaking hands mid-way through mass.

But hugging, touching, shaking hands is not necessarily "sexual assault". If that was the case, I've been "sexually assaulted" by many 80-90 year old women!!!!!!

[greenjar_01]

30. Of course I agree with you on the second point

[Blasphemer]

33. I am glad she came forward

I don't care how long ago it was. I was subjected to (non-employment) related sexual impropriety that I remember very well decades later. I was young and didn't think I had any recourse or reason to go to anyone in authority about it. However, if that person was in the public eye and continued the same pattern of behavior, I could imagine coming forward. Probably moreso in solidarity and support than because of what I would feel entitled to justice-wise.

One of my first thoughts when the scandal broke was that it was unlikely that this is something that he just started doing three years ago. It makes perfect sense to me that he has a long history of this kind of inappropriate behavior. It is completely unacceptable regardless of a person's party affiliation and regardless of the amount of power, wealth, or status they have.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

36. Thank you!

Those questioning why these women didn't come forward sooner simply don't understand.

[Polybius]

37. Exactly

They seem to have forgotten the Kavanaugh hearings.

[chowder66]

34. My question is why don't these men and women set boundaries?

This may be something that needs to be addressed on top of paths to redress harassment.
Some HR Departments are notoriously bad at protecting employees and actually get them fired for making complaints.

I'm wondering if men and women are not valuing themselves enough to stand their ground and set their boundaries (they could also be shy though).
If this is the case it needs to be addressed by parents, educators and workplaces.

I have found setting boundaries typically stops the behavior outright.
Obviously it won't happen in all cases, but if people are not setting boundaries, then some bosses and co-workers may feel like there is nothing wrong in hitting on employees and colleagues. My guess is that in some cases there are some mixed signals and everyone is operating on old assumptive roles (women should not complain or they may lose their job and on the flip-side it's the sexual revolution baby!!).

[MichMan]

38. Why doesn't the person who initiates the harassment set the boundaries?

and not subject subordinates to it in the first place

[chowder66]

41. That's the given. I'm talking about something I don't hear about.

That is also why I mentioned paths to redress any issues. HR Departments aren't doing it right. People don't want to go that route and why is that?
These are the other issues that should be addressed an fixed.

[pnwmom]

40. My question is why you think the SUBORDINATE should be setting boundaries

instead of the boss who is supposed to be setting the standard for his office?

An employee has to worry that she may be fired at will, by her employer. An employer isn't risking his job by respecting his employees space.

[chowder66]

43. I'm taking about other aspects of this.

see my response #41.

Jesus FC.

I'm addressing BOUNDERIES between people. Specifically setting them when someone tries to or does cross them.

I'm wondering if there is an issue that needs to be addressed about women and men not feeling strong enough or supported enough to address a boss or co-worker straight on. I don't see anything wrong with asking that question on a discussion board.


Of course people/bosses shouldn't behave in a manner that is uncomfortable to others but not everyone operates under the same set of values or understand that their interactions make others uncomfortable. Also if someone doesn't tell you they are uncomfortable (by setting those boundaries in real time) then they may continue their behavior.

[pnwmom]

44. Again, an employee is risking her job by trying to set boundaries on her employer's behavior.

In this case, the employer was the Governor of the state. Who was supposed to train him in how to behave? The 20 somethings who worked for him?

Wrong. There's no excuse since the Anita Hill hearings, and the Supreme Court ruling of 1997, for people like Cuomo not to understand that behavior like his doesn't belong in the workplace. He saw what Al Franken went through, yet some of these incidents happened as recently as 2019. He acted as if the rules didn't apply to him.

[chowder66]

46. Please do not "Again" me.

I'm talking about something that you are not interested in discussing or are intentionally not understanding. I'm not being specific to Cuomo.

However, you are seemingly chomping at the bit to argue.
If you don't wish to understand where I'm coming from that's fine. Just move along.

[pnwmom]

47. Who are "these men and women" you referred to? You asked this question in response

to an OP about Cuomo, and then claimed you weren't talking about the women who made allegations about him.

So who are you talking about, and how are we supposed to understand your question with no context?

[chowder66]

48. Men and women who are the recipients

of unwanted advances or interactions with others, including bosses and co-workers but could extend to anyone.


This may be something that needs to be addressed on top of paths to redress harassment.
Some HR Departments are notoriously bad at protecting employees and actually get them fired for making complaints.

I'm wondering if men and women are not valuing themselves enough to stand their ground and set their boundaries (they could also be shy though).
If this is the case it needs to be addressed by parents, educators and workplaces.

I have found setting boundaries typically stops the behavior outright.
Obviously it won't happen in all cases, but if people are not setting boundaries, then some bosses and co-workers may feel like there is nothing wrong in hitting on employees and colleagues. My guess is that in some cases there are some mixed signals and everyone is operating on old assumptive roles (women should not complain or they may lose their job and on the flip-side it's the sexual revolution baby!!).

[raising2moredems]

42. I'm female and have having a REALLY hard time with these women

This isn't the 1950 or 1960s - or even the early 1970s. Time to grow a pair and deal with this bullshit. Someone, male or female, acts inappropriate, f-ing deal with it AT THE TIME. Tell him/her to get his/her f-ing hands off of you. He won't stop - hard shot to the grown. She won't stop, hard shot to nose or gut. "Speaking out" 30 f-ing years later is too late. "Speaking out" anything but a day or two later is TOO LATE. Women need to stop being g-d*mn doormats.
Speak the h*ll up. I had a perv boss who waited until he knew I was 18. I went to HR (late 70s). As expected, HR didn't want to deal with it. I left the company. Years later I ended up working at the same place at the perv. Who was uncomfortable then - well it sure wasn't me.
Bottom line - stand up not only for yourself but others. But stand up AT THE TIME, not years/decades later.

[pnwmom]

45. Right. This isn't the early 70's. There's ZERO EXCUSE for Cuomo not to understand,

after two Supreme Court decisions on this issue, the more recent being in 1997, that his work place behavior was unacceptable.

YOU LEFT THE COMPANY where you were being harassed. That is NOT an acceptable resolution. It isn't now and it WAS NOT THEN, when it happened to you. You shouldn't have been the one to risk your job, and neither should these women. I can't believe that in 2021 this is still a question.

I think your own situation has blinded you to the unfairness of asking these women to be the one to set the boundaries for the older man who was not only their employer -- the person with the power to fire them -- he was the Governor of the state.

[Kaleva]

52. Women who support Trump say the exact same thing about his accusers.

[Steelrolled]

55. Dear Lord. /nt