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SERINO JOINS COLLEAGUES IN CALLING FOR SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATE SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS AGAINST CUOMO
February 24, 2021
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ISSUE:
- Sexual Harassment
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HYDE PARK, NY – With allegations of sexual harassment being leveled today by a former staff person against Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Sue Serino has joined her colleagues in calling for a Special Prosecutor to be appointed to independently investigate the claims. After sending the letter, Senator Serino released the following statement:
“We have a duty to take allegations of sexual harassment seriously, and we must take steps immediately to conduct a thorough, independent investigation into these claims. Currently, the body charged with investigating such claims—the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE)—is effectively controlled by the Governor, making it necessary for a Special Prosecutor to be appointed to ensure an investigation can proceed free from any influence.
We also have a duty to ensure that victims have access to a process they can trust to report misconduct and hold perpetrators accountable. That has been missing in Albany for far too long, which is why I have sponsored legislation for years to create a truly independent commission to evaluate such claims, and it is needed now more than ever. I stand ready to work with any of my colleagues to advance a proposal to establish a fully independent process to put an end to the culture that has seemingly let secrecy and sexual harassment permeate our government for far too long.”
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![Senator Serino is pictured above with Jim Marrinan (Teacher, Wappingers Central School District), Andrea Maserjian (Teacher, Poughkeepsie City School District), Mike McCall (Former School Board Member, Spackenkill Union Free School District), Anthony Cardinale (Teacher, Carmel Central School District), Dr. Martin D. Handler (Superintendent of Schools, Pine Plains Central Schools District), NYS Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia, Heidi Nyakaza (Parent, Hyde Park School District), Paul Fanuele (Executive Principal, Arlington High School), Kimberly Sottile (Special Education Teacher, Spackenkill Union Free School District), and John Rudy (Vice President, Board of Education, Millbrook Central School District).](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/education_advisory_board_2.jpg?itok=fLE-pMkJ)