Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Andrew Cuomo

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Andrew Cuomo.

Andrew Cuomo is an American politician and lawyer. A Democrat and son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, he served as the 56th Governor of New York from 2011 to 2021. His tenure ended with his resignation amidst multiple sexual misconduct allegations. He previously held positions as the New York Attorney General and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton. Cuomo recently ran for New York City mayor as an independent after losing in the democratic primary.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1998: Inspector General Testifies Against Cuomo

In 1998, Clinton-appointed HUD inspector general Susan Gaffney testified to a Senate committee about "escalating attacks on her office" by Andrew Cuomo and his aides.

1999: Inspector General's Office Report

In 1999, the Inspector General's office concluded that "most (15 out of 19) Community Builders' goals were activities rather than actual accomplishments" and that Andrew Cuomo's initiatives "had a crippling effect on many of HUD's ongoing operations".

May 2001: Inspector General's Retirement

In May 2001, Susan Gaffney, the HUD inspector general, retired shortly after the department reached a settlement with an employee who had accused her of racial discrimination.

July 23, 2007: Admonishes Spitzer Administration

On July 23, 2007, Andrew Cuomo's office admonished the Spitzer administration for ordering the New York State Police to keep special records of then Senate majority leader Joseph Bruno's whereabouts.

2007: Start of Subprime Mortgage Crisis

During Andrew Cuomo's tenure as HUD Secretary, he called for an increase in home ownership and pushed government-sponsored lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy more home loans issued to poor homeowners. Some believe that this helped lead to the 2007–2010 subprime mortgage crisis.

2008: Cuomo Criticized for 'Shuck and Jive' Comment About Obama

In 2008, during the Democratic Presidential primaries, Cuomo said, "You can't shuck and jive at a press conference", regarding Barack Obama. Some criticized Cuomo for his use of the phrase, with some interpreting it as a racial slur.

2010: End of Subprime Mortgage Crisis

June 2012: Cuomo Administration Considers Lifting Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing

In June 2012, the Cuomo administration said it was considering lifting a state ban on hydraulic fracturing (also known as "fracking") to stimulate the economy in upstate New York.

January 15, 2013: Cuomo Signs NY SAFE Act into Law

On January 15, 2013, Andrew Cuomo signed into law the NY SAFE Act, the first state gun control bill to pass after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. It was described as the toughest gun control law in the United States.

2013: Harassment of Women

The report found that Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women from 2013 through 2020 and retaliated against victims who made complaints about his conduct

2014: Involvement in Formation of IDC

In 2014, it was reported that Andrew Cuomo had been actively involved in the formation of the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) three years earlier, which gave control of the state senate to Republicans.

May 2017: Sherry Vill Alleges Inappropriate Kissing

In May 2017, Sherry Vill, a New York constituent whose flood-damaged house Cuomo had visited, alleged that Cuomo had inappropriately kissed her twice on her cheek during that visit.

February 2018: Investigation Reveals Cuomo Collected Donations from Appointees

In February 2018, a New York Times investigation revealed that the Andrew Cuomo administration quietly reinterpreted an executive order and collected $890,000 from 24 of his appointees.

March 2018: Joseph Percoco convicted on felony charges

In March 2018, Joseph Percoco, a close friend and former top aide to Cuomo, was convicted on felony charges of solicitation of bribes and honest services fraud for taking over $315,000 in bribes.

March 2018: Cuomo Rewrites Disclaimer Language on Campaign Website

In March 2018, The New York Times reported that Andrew Cuomo had rewritten the disclaimer language on his campaign website for the executive order barring donations from appointees, potentially allowing for more donations.

August 15, 2018: "America Was Never That Great" Statement

On August 15, 2018, at an anti-sex trafficking bill-signing event, Andrew Cuomo stated, "We're not gonna make America great again. It was never that great", which resulted in boos from his supporters.

September 2018: Judge sentenced Percoco to 6 years in prison

In September 2018, Judge Valerie Caproni sentenced Joseph Percoco to 6 years in prison following his conviction on felony charges.

2018: Acceptance of Independence Party Ballot Line

In 2018, for his reelection bid, Andrew Cuomo accepted being on top of the ballot line for the Independence Party, which included numerous Republicans and Trump supporters.

January 22, 2019: Cuomo signed the 2019 version of the Reproductive Health Act

On January 22, 2019, Andrew Cuomo signed the 2019 version of the Reproductive Health Act after Democrats gained control of the state Senate. To celebrate the bill's passage, Cuomo ordered One World Trade Center to be lit in pink, which sparked criticism from conservatives and Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

March 6, 2020: Criticism of Federal Government's COVID-19 Response

On March 6, 2020, Andrew Cuomo criticized the federal government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak, calling it "absurd and nonsensical".

March 2020: Brother Chris tested positive for COVID-19

In March 2020, Cuomo's brother, Chris, tested positive for COVID-19, raising questions and commentary about conflicts of interest in their relationship.

March 2020: New York State Department of Health issued order requiring admission of patients to nursing homes regardless of COVID test results

In March 2020, the New York State Department of Health, under Cuomo's leadership, issued an order on March 25 requiring nursing homes to admit patients regardless of COVID-19 test results and prohibited testing on prospective patients.

March 28, 2020: Threat of Lawsuit Over Rhode Island Quarantine Policy

On March 28, 2020, Andrew Cuomo threatened Rhode Island with a lawsuit over its quarantine policy targeting arriving New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 2020: Over 6,000 New York state nursing home residents died of COVID-19

As of June 2020, more than 6,000 New York state nursing home residents had died of COVID-19, leading to criticism of the Cuomo administration's policies.

August 2020: Allegations of Utilizing State Resources for Book

Between July and August 2020, there were allegations that Andrew Cuomo utilized state resources and staff to work on his book.

October 2020: Publication of 'American Crisis'

In October 2020, Andrew Cuomo published his book, American Crisis, in which he declared victory against the pandemic, despite New York having the highest per capita hospitalization rate by February 2021.

November 2020: Cuomo Allegedly Gropes Aide at Governor's Mansion

In November 2020, an unnamed aide reported being summoned to the governor's mansion where Andrew Cuomo allegedly groped her after she had been summoned to governor's mansion. When she told him it would get him in trouble, Cuomo allegedly shut the door and said "I don't care" before continuing to groping one of her breasts over her bra by reaching under her blouse.

December 13, 2020: Lindsey Boylan accused Cuomo of sexual harassment

On December 13, 2020, Lindsey Boylan, a former aide for Cuomo, alleged that Cuomo sexually harassed her for years and created a toxic team environment.

2020: Sexual Misconduct Allegations Begin

Beginning in late 2020, Andrew Cuomo faced numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.

January 2021: Report on Nursing Home Deaths

In January 2021, a report by state attorney general Letitia James found that the Cuomo administration had undercounted COVID-19-related deaths at nursing homes by as much as 50%.

January 29, 2021: Cuomo Expresses Distrust of Health Officials

During a press conference on January 29, 2021, Andrew Cuomo stated that he did not trust the expertise of health officials.

February 27, 2021: Charlotte Bennett accused Cuomo of sexual harassment

On February 27, 2021, Charlotte Bennett, an executive assistant and health policy advisor of Cuomo, accused him of sexual harassment, saying that he asked her about her sex life on several occasions in late spring 2020.

March 1, 2021: Beth Garvey instructed Letitia James to proceed with an independent investigation of Cuomo

On March 1, 2021, Cuomo's senior counsel Beth Garvey instructed New York Attorney General Letitia James to proceed with an independent investigation of Cuomo.

March 11, 2021: New York Assembly Approves Impeachment Investigation

On March 11, 2021, the New York Assembly approved a separate impeachment investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations made against Cuomo.

March 2021: Allegations surfaced that Cuomo prioritized COVID-19 tests for family and associates

In March 2021, allegations emerged that Cuomo prioritized COVID-19 tests for his family and other associates during the early stages of the pandemic when tests were limited.

March 19, 2021: Leaked Audio of Cuomo Threatening Bill Lipton

On March 19, 2021, The New York Times released audio of Andrew Cuomo threatening Bill Lipton, head of the Working Families Party, for endorsing his primary opponent.

August 3, 2021: Attorney General Releases Report Concluding Cuomo Sexually Harassed 11 Women

On August 3, 2021, Attorney General James released a report concluding a five-month investigation. The report concluded that during Cuomo's time in office, he sexually harassed 11 women. The investigation concluded that Cuomo's behavior included unwanted groping, kissing and sexual comments, and also found that Cuomo's office had engaged in illegal retaliation against Boylan for her allegation against him.

August 2021: Accusations of Sexual Harassment

In August 2021, a report by New York Attorney General Letitia James detailed accusations of sexual harassment by Andrew Cuomo and his attempts to silence victims, leading to calls for his removal from office.

August 2021: Report Finds Cuomo Sexually Harassed Women

In August 2021, a report from independent investigators commissioned by Letitia James found that Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women from 2013 through 2020 and retaliated against victims who made complaints about his conduct.

August 23, 2021: Cuomo Resigns from Office

On August 23, 2021, Andrew Cuomo resigned from office amidst an impeachment investigation against him.

August 24, 2021: Cuomo Resigns as Governor

On August 24, 2021, Andrew Cuomo resigned as Governor of New York, effective immediately, in the face of almost certain removal from office due to sexual harassment allegations.

October 28, 2021: Cuomo to Be Charged with Misdemeanor Sex Crime

On October 28, 2021, a spokesman for the state court system announced that Cuomo would be charged with a misdemeanor sex crime in the Albany City Court.

November 16, 2021: JCOPE revoked authorization for Cuomo's book and ordered suspension of further printing

On November 16, 2021, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) revoked its prior authorization for Cuomo to publish his book, and ordered the suspension of any further printing, citing the use of state resources in writing, editing, and publishing the book.

December 14, 2021: Cuomo Ordered to Pay $5.1 Million in Book Profits

On December 14, 2021, Andrew Cuomo was ordered by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics to pay New York state $5.1 million in book profits he made during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic from his book "American Crisis". The commission reversed its prior approval due to complaints that Cuomo used state resources to produce the book.

December 23, 2021: Nassau County DA Declines Filing Criminal Charges

On December 23, 2021, Nassau county District Attorney Joyce Smith declined filing criminal charges against Andrew Cuomo.

December 28, 2021: Westchester County DA Declines to Issue Criminal Charges

On December 28, 2021, the Westchester County District Attorney declined to issue criminal charges against Andrew Cuomo, citing "statutory requirements" of New York.

2021: Cuomo Resigns as Governor

In 2021, Andrew Cuomo resigned from his position as the 56th governor of New York following numerous sexual misconduct allegations.

January 4, 2022: Albany County DA Drops Criminal Complaint Against Cuomo

On January 4, 2022, Albany County District Attorney David Soares dropped a criminal complaint against Cuomo and also announced that Cuomo would not face any other charges related to other groping allegations, citing lack of evidence.

January 31, 2022: Final Sexual Misconduct Case Dropped Against Cuomo

On January 31, 2022, the fifth and final sexual misconduct case against Cuomo, made by Virginia Limmiatis, was dropped by Oswego district attorney Gregory Oakes, effectively clearing him of all charges.

2022: Criminal Charge Dropped

In 2022, a criminal charge in Albany County against Andrew Cuomo was dropped.

2022: NY State Attorney General Attempts to Prevent State Paying Cuomo's Legal Fees

In 2022, the New York State Attorney General attempted to prevent the state from being required to pay for a portion of Cuomo's legal fees relating to the sexual misconduct scandal. However, Cuomo went to court where he would successfully sue the AG, claiming that the state was required to pay for those legal fees.

May 2023: Supreme Court overturned Joseph Percoco's bribery conviction.

In May 2023, the Supreme Court unanimously overturned the bribery conviction of Joseph Percoco.

September 11, 2023: New York State Supreme Court ruled in Cuomo's favor regarding COEAL's authority

On September 11, 2023, the New York State Supreme Court ruled in Cuomo's favor, claiming that the new commission (COEAL) was unconstitutional.

November 24, 2023: Commisso Files Lawsuit Against Cuomo Under New York Adult Survivors Act

On November 24, 2023, Brittany Commisso filed a lawsuit against Cuomo alleging sexual harassment under the New York Adult Survivors Act. The lawsuit alleges a number of inappropriate interactions and actions by Cuomo, and that Commisso hadn't come forward in fear of retaliation; which the suit claims did happen.

October 2024: U.S. House subcommittee found Cuomo reviewed and edited a nursing home report

In October 2024, a U.S. House of Representatives select subcommittee found that Cuomo reviewed, edited, and even drafted portions of a supposedly independent report on nursing home policies during the pandemic.

January 7, 2025: Trial hearings started in the New York State High Court of Appeals

On January 7, 2025, trial hearings started in the New York State High Court of Appeals regarding the constitutionality of the new commission and the probe on Cuomo's book.

February 18, 2025: Top court declared the new commission is constitutional

On February 18, 2025, the New York State High Court of Appeals declared that the new commission is constitutional, allowing the probe on Cuomo's book to continue.

March 2025: Total Costs of Cuomo's Scandals Reach $61 Million

According to the Comptroller of New York State, the total costs relating to the investigations and legal cases from Cuomo's multiple scandals, had reached around $61 million by March 2025. These legal and investigative costs have become controversial as the costs would have to be paid by the general public via taxes.

March 21, 2025: Cuomo Files Lawsuit Against State Comptroller Over Legal Fees

On March 21, 2025, Cuomo opened a new lawsuit against the state comptroller after the comptroller rejected to pay for a separate case against the AG that was dismissed by the court a month before. Cuomo claims that he is entitled for the state to pay for his case because it involves activity that occurred when he was in office.

May 2025: Department of Justice opened an investigation into Cuomo's testimony

In May 2025, the Department of Justice opened an investigation into Cuomo's statements in his testimony to Congress.

May 2025: U.S. Department of Justice Investigation

As of May 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice has an open investigation into Andrew Cuomo's testimony on his involvement with a questionable report used to combat criticism of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 22, 2025: Cuomo's X Account Posts AI-Generated Racist Advertisement

On October 22, 2025, Cuomo's X (previously Twitter) account posted an AI-generated advertisement that depicted a fictionalized New York in which his opponent, Zohran Mamdani, was elected. The video was widely condemned as "racist" and "disgusting".

2025: Cuomo's Mayoral Campaign Supported by Super PAC

In 2025, Cuomo's mayoral campaign was supported by the Fix the City super PAC, which spent $23 million during the primary. Opponent Zohran Mamdani attacked Cuomo over these donors.

2025: Legal Costs Become a Talking Point in Mayoral Primary

In 2025, the issue over the legal and investigative costs has become a major talking point by Cuomo's opponents in the 2025 New York City Democratic mayoral primary, where some have asked Cuomo to pay back the $61 million to the state.

Mentioned in this timeline

Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...

The United States of America is a federal republic located...

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is an American politician lawyer and...

Barack Obama the th U S President - was the...

Coronaviruses are a family of RNA viruses affecting mammals and...

CNN Cable News Network is a multinational news organization founded...