As Letitia James campaigned for City Council candidates Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill expanding the state’s paid family leave law to include siblings.

But as they prepare to face one another in next year’s Democratic primary for governor, it’s a former governor who keeps making headlines. 

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James are now officially running against each other for governor next year

  • While there are stark differences between the two candidates, both rejected attacks from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo

  • Cuomo has issued numerous statements the last several days, attacking James for her August 3 report detailing accusations of sexual harassment against him

Andrew Cuomo issued several statements over the last few days attacking James and her independent investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo released in August.

“This is nothing more than an attempt by the former governor to undermine and politicize this report,” James said. “And again, for some who describe it as the Big Lie — but it is not. I believe the women. They obviously told their truth. And we are going to stand by our report.”

But Cuomo didn’t stop there. He also went after the Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, who announced last week that Cuomo would face a criminal charge of forcible touching, an allegation that was detailed in the James report. 

Cuomo accuses James of conspiring with Apple against him. But Hochul was dismissive of the former governor’s claims.

“I am too busy to pay attention to this. If you look at my schedule, you look at the responsibilities I have as governor, I am not distracted whatsoever,” Hochul said.

Hochul did say she stands by the results of the attorney general’s investigation. 

“I supported the investigation, the results of the investigation, and I believe the women. And that’s all I’m going to say on this, because anything else takes away from what the people of this state want me to do, which is focus on solving their problems,” Hochul said.

In a statement, Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopradi said, “It’s been 33 days since Gubernatorial-wannabe Tish James said she was going to break her silence about her sham August 3 report yet she has refused to answer for the countless mistruths, mistakes and outright deceptions in it.”

One week after the James sexual harassment report, Cuomo chose to resign. He could have stayed and made his case through what likely would have been an impeachment process, including a trial in the state Senate.