One of the women featured in a slideshow of Gov. Andrew Cuomo that showed him kissing a series of strangers that was released as part of his defense against sexual harassment allegations sobbed Tuesday that she felt “revictimized” when the image was shared.
“I am being put in a position where I feel as if I’m being used by Governor Cuomo to push a narrative that his habit of invading people’s personal space is justified. I am appalled to be in a position where I feel as if I’m being used in this manner,” Susan Iannucci, 62, said during a Tuesday press conference beside high-profile women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred shortly after Cuomo announced his resignation.
“I don’t appreciate him using my picture to spin a story.”
Following the release of state Attorney General Letitia James’ scathing report concluding Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women, he released a montage showing him touching and kissing people over the years as apparent evidence that he “never touched anyone inappropriately.”
Iannucci’s photo was among dozens shown in the slideshow and while the governor claimed his unwanted signs of affection were innocent gestures aimed at both men and women, the White Plains woman said the interaction left her feeling humiliated.
“On June 12, 2018, Cuomo held a press conference in my hometown of White Plains, New York, which I attended with a friend. As he was mingling with the crowd after his speech, he hugged my friend and then he turned his attention to me,” Iannucci tearfully recalled.
“He looked me in the eye, grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him and kissed me on the cheek without asking me if I was ok with such a personal greeting,” she continued, pausing at points to collect herself.
“I was taken by surprise and embarrassed and because of this, I smiled nervously. Afterward I had to endure comments from people in attendance and then I discovered that someone had taken a picture of this and posted it on social media, causing me further distress and humiliation.”
Iannucci said the original interaction was bad enough but when she learned the image was used in Cuomo’s montage, she was “shocked.”
“This time, the video was shown on all the news networks and in all the newspapers. I am once again put in the position of humiliation and embarrassment,” the school office manager said.
“I do not condone his actions towards any of the women who have come forward and I do not appreciate being made to look as if I do. I believe the governor’s actions towards myself and others to be wrong, despite how he has chosen to utilize my image.”
Iannucci said she doesn’t plan to take legal action against the outgoing governor but wanted to make sure the public knew her story.
Cuomo tried to claim last week that he’s been making the same physical gestures “in public all my life.”
“I actually learned it from my mother and from my father,” he said at the time, referring to the late three-term Gov. Mario Cuomo.
“It is meant to convey warmth, nothing more.”
Facing possible impeachment, the governor announced his resignation on Tuesday, effective in 14 days.
Under state law, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will assume the role of governor, becoming the first woman to lead the Empire State.
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Woman in Cuomo's kissing photo slideshow says she was 'revictimized' by pic - New York Post
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