ALBANY, N.Y. — A woman who met New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the first time at a wedding has accused him of making an inappropriate advance, according to the New York Times.
Anna Ruch, 33, told the Times that the governor — who is under investigation by state Attorney General Tish James' office for alleged harassment of two former aides — placed his hand on her back.
The governor then put his hands on her cheeks and asked to kiss her after she removed his hand.The Times account is accompanied by a photo of the governor holding Ruch's face. She told the Times she felt "uncomfortable and embarrassed."
Ruch was not a state employee. But the unwanted advance from the governor, 63, is likely to escalate calls for his resignation.
Ruch said she was so disturbed by the encounter that she had to ask a friend who witnessed it whether his lips had touched her as she pulled away. The friend said the governor had kissed her on the cheek.
“I didn’t have a choice in that matter," Ruch told the Times. "I didn’t have a choice in his physical dominance over me at that moment. And that’s what infuriates me."