Andrew Cuomo, #MeToo, and Accountability

Recent reports of sexual harassment and assault perpetrated by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have reminded us of three things. The first is that four years and a pandemic later, the #MeToo movement continues and remains as critical as ever. The second is that people in positions of power still commit violence against others who hold lesser power. And the third is we must continue working toward accountability for those who perpetrate sexual violence. 

This is not the first time that a high-profile public figure is reported to have harassed and assaulted their colleagues and abused their power. Nor is this the first time that someone who has been heralded as a vital leader—Cuomo’s daily press conferences during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic riveted the nation—turns out to have built their reputation on a foundation of bullying and lies. This toxic combination not only makes it easier for sexual harassment and abuse to flourish in the workplace, but it also makes it extremely difficult for survivors to come forward and report what has been done to them.

When people in power who commit violence are called out for their actions, a carefully crafted public apology is often offered as a mea culpa for “inappropriate behavior.”  This “inappropriate behavior” is rarely connected to the larger dynamic at work: routine and systematic abuse of power.  

Sexual violence isn’t about sex. It’s about exerting control over others who have less power than the abuser. 

A workplace that lacks basic safety measures and comprehensive procedures to protect its employees is one in which  sexual harassment and abuse will  proliferate. To prevent sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace, organizations and institutions must actively work to build  cultures in which abuse of power of all kinds is unacceptable. 

We work with survivors of workplace sexual harassment and assault every day. The reports from multiple survivors who have spoken publicly about Cuomo’s abuses are all too familiar to us. The best method of sexual violence prevention in the workplace is to have systems and processes in place that hold abusers accountable. 

Every survivor deserves support in healing and pursuing justice in ways that are meaningful to them. If you’ve experienced sexual harassment and assult at work—or anywhere—we are here for you. You can call our hotline 24-7 at 800-841-8371 or connect via web chat at barcc.org/chat (9:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. every day).