In his first public appearance since three women came forward with sexual harassment allegations, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo addressed the accusations but said he would not resign.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting the investigation into the claims made by two former staffers, and a woman that Cuomo met at a wedding has also spoken out.

Cuomo pledged his full cooperation with the investigation and apologized for making women feel uncomfortable.

“The lawyers say that I shouldn’t say anything until that review is over, I’m a lawyer too, but I want New Yorkers to hear directly from me on that. I fully support a woman’s right to come forward, it should be encouraged in every way. I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable. It was unintentional, and I truly and deeply apologize for it, I feel awful about it, and frankly, I am embarrassed by it, and that is not easy to say but it is the truth,” Cuomo said.

The governor profusely apologized while asking the people of New York to wait for the facts to come out.

“I ask the people of this state to wait for the facts of the attorney general’s report before forming an opinion, get the facts please before forming an opinion,” Cuomo said.

He was clear in saying he would not resign when asked by reporters if he should step aside.

“I’m going to do the job the people of the state elected me to do,” he said.
The governor called the situation a learning experience.

“I also want you to know that I have learned from what has been an incredible, difficult situation for me as well as other people, and I’ve learned an important lesson. I’m sorry, I’m sorry for whatever pain I caused anyone, I never intended it, and I will be the better for this experience,” he said.

One point the governor wanted to make was he said he never touched anyone inappropriately.

“I never knew at the time that I was making anyone feel uncomfortable,” he said. “I never knew at the time I was making anyone feel uncomfortable. And, I certainly never ever meant to offend anyone. Or, hurt anyone. Or, cause anyone any pain. That is the last thing I would ever want to do.”
Attorney Debra Katz, who is representing Bennett, said the news conference “was full of falsehoods and inaccurate information, and New Yorkers deserve better.”

Lawmakers and politicians react

The calls for Cuomo’s resignation have been growing louder as state legislators are in the final stages of formulating a bill that will scale back the governor’s pandemic powers moving forward.

The governor said they had an agreement on the bill that is meant to curb his emergency power.

However, portraying the bill as resulting from an “agreement” is different than how the Legislature might frame it. Lawmakers have sought to check Cuomo’s power after the feds began investigating how the administration handled nursing home death data.

Cuomo is hanging onto his office thanks to continued support from the stronger of the two camps in the Democratic party, which is insisting on letting state Attorney General Letitia James conduct her investigation.’

ABCNEWS