For months, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has been fending off claims that he sexually harassed a number of women on his payroll. But Cuomo isn’t the only big-name Democrat in the Empire State to have been hit with troubling allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Washington Examiner reported this week that Scott Stringer, a Democrat vying to be mayor of New York, has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman when she was 30 and he was 41.
Allegations of assault
According to the Examiner, Stringer, who currently serves as the city’s comptroller, has been alleged to have subjected a woman to unwanted sexual advances, including unwanted touching.
Jean Kim said at a press conference Wednesday that the alleged activity took place some two decades ago, while she was working as an unpaid intern on Stringer’s campaign for public advocate.
“During his campaign, I traveled back and forth to campaign events with him, and Scott Stringer repeatedly groped me, put his hands on my thighs, and between my legs, and demanded to know why I wouldn’t have sex with him,” Kim said.
Kim was reportedly flanked by a group of individuals holding signs demanding that Stringer resign.
Democrat denies
Stringer, for his part, has denied the allegations, saying he was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Kim and that their encounters were “consensual,” according to the Examiner.
“I believe it was a mutual, consensual relationship. I never used any force, made any threats, or did any of the things that are alleged,” the mayoral hopeful said, according to the Examiner.
Stringer also said he’d “maintained an amicable relationship” with Kim “for many years afterwards, until 2013, when we could not find her a role on my campaign for comptroller.”
“We’ve all been triggered”
Despite Stringer’s denials, his opponents in the mayoral race have been quick to comment on the claims. According to the Examiner, Democrat Dianne Morales told reporters she thought the development marked a “really unfortunate moment in this race.”
“As a survivor myself, who’s got a femme-led team, many of whom are also survivors, we’ve all been triggered,” Morales declared.
“I think I’m still really processing,” she added. “I’m not focused on Scott Stringer. I’m really focused on what this woman has to endure.”
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