What is the right way for a politician to apologize?
Sunday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo responded to allegations that he had sexually harassed two women and created a toxic work environment.
“I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as unwanted flirtation. To the extent that anyone felt that way I am truly sorry about that,” Mr. Cuomo said.
What remains to be seen is how effective the statement will be in mitigating blowback. In one case, a woman who worked for the state’s economic development authority and in Mr. Cuomo’s office from 2015 to 2018 said he kissed her on the lips after a meeting in his office and asked her during an airplane trip to play strip poker, allegations the governor has denied.
This weekend a separate allegation emerged from a former executive assistant and health-policy adviser. She alleged that Mr. Cuomo asked her inappropriate questions about her sex life and made comments she interpreted as suggesting he was interested in a sexual relationship with her. In a statement on Saturday, Mr. Cuomo said he never made advances toward his former staffer.
