Handsy Andy: After having been found by an investigation to have sexually harassed eleven women who worked with him, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s political life in on the bubble, but he’s denying it all and fighting.

  Shortly after the release yesterday of a 165 page report on his conduct and behavior, Cuomo in a pre-produced defense on television said, “I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances.”

  President Biden, a longtime friend and political ally, said Cuomo should resign and upstate New York’s firebrand Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik said the governor should be arrested. The NY Times said he should get out and governors of neighboring states said he’s got to go.

  New York’s Democratic assembly leaders held an emergency meeting to discuss impeachment. 

  The report says Cuomo subjected women in his professional orbit to unwanted hugs and kisses on the cheeks, even the lips. It says he grabbed a woman’s butt, made comments about women’s personal lives, and more. The damning document says the “Governor engaged in conduct constituting sexual harassment under federal and New York State law.”

  A lot of what Cuomo is accused of doing is kind of clueless frat boy innuendo and suggestion, leaving women wondering whether he meant what they thought he meant. One 22-year-old aide said he asked her whether a man his age could date a woman her age. Another said he gave her a tour of his office, pointing out the cigar box given him by former president Bill Clinton, a possible reference to the cigar in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. 

  An executive assistant said he reached under her blouse and grabbed her breast. A member of his state police detail said that while riding in an elevator, “the Governor placed his finger on the top of her neck and ran his finger down the center of her spine midway down her back, and said  ‘Hey, you.’” That same trooper said he once put his hand on her belly. 

  Some of the most damaging testimony came from a former aide named Charlotte Bennett who said Cuomo had talked to her about her being sexually assaulted, but that she thought what he really wanted was to have sex with her. 

  In his televised denial, Cuomo said he had been trying to help Bennett by talking to her about her experience. He said, “I thought I could help her work through a difficult time. I did ask her questions I don’t normally ask people.”

  In defense of his kissing and hugging people, and touching their faces, Cuomo showed a montage of himself kissing and touching people’s faces at political meet and greets … even a picture with his mother. He said that’s just his way.

  He said he often greets people with the Italian “ciao bella,” which means “hello beautiful.” Used in its secondary context, it also means “goodbye beautiful.”

Viral News: New York City will require proof of Covid vaccination. “It’s time for people to see vaccination as literally necessary to living a good and full and healthy life,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference.

  “Not everyone is going to agree with this, I understand that” he said. “But for so many people, this is going to be a lifesaving act, that we are putting a mandate in place that is going to guarantee a much higher level of vaccination in this city. And that is the key to protecting people, and the key to our recovery.”

  About 66 percent of adults in the city are fully vaccinated.

The Spin Rack: Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has pardoned the St. Louis couple who famously pointed guns at Black Lives protesters outside their home. Mark McCloskey had an assault rifle and his wife Patricia waved a pistol. — With recreational boating surging during the pandemic, the Coast Guard notes a 25 percent jump in boating fatalities last summer, 767 deaths. — A drunk 22-year-old passenger on Frontier Airlines who groped two flight attendants and punched a third finished his trip taped to his seat. Maxwell Berry of Norwalk, Ohio was arrested after landing.

Five Ring Roundup: American runner Sydney McLaughlin 

beat her own world record to win the women’s 400 meter hurdles. Her rival,  Dalilah Muhammad, finished second. The 21-year-old McLaughlin ran it in 51.46 seconds.

  The US women’s basketball team routed Australia 79-55 to reach the quarterfinals.

  And, who knew? Japanese skateboarders are sweeping the skating events, taking three gold medals so far.  

Sleeping With Elephants: Documents included with the investigative report on Andrew Cuomo reveal that his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, has acted as an adviser to the governor’s response to claims of sexual harassment. Chris was interviewed for the report.

  The younger Cuomo has been banned from covering his brother’s troubles and has previously apologized on air for giving Andrew political advice. Chris explained himself saying, “family first, job second.”

  Fellow reporter John King mentioned the conflict on air yesterday, saying, “Many of you know this, but the governor’s brother, Chris, works right here at CNN as an anchor. We should note that he was interviewed as part of this report, as someone who reached out to talk to his brother as this crisis was unfolding.”

  In journalism, disclosure is not justification when you’ve done wrong.

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