Gov. Cuomo addresses sexual harassment allegations: 'I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive'

Gov. Andrew Cuomo pulled back Sunday from his plan to have a former federal judge, who has ties to one of the governor’s closest allies, investigate sexual harassment allegations against himself.

In the Sunday statement, Cuomo admits to being "insensitive" and "too personal" with his interactions towards the women who have lodged allegations against him, the New York Times reports.  

"I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended," he said.

“I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that," he continued.

In a new statement, Cuomo asked New York attorney general Letitia James and chief judge on New York State’s highest court, Janet DiFiore, to choose an investigator to look into the sexual harassment allegations made against him by two women who worked for his administration.

The Governor's statement followed the reception of heavy criticism towards Cuomo's initial choice to lead the investigation, Barbara S. Jones, who is a former federal judge who worked with Cuomo’s longtime adviser, Steven M. Cohen, the Times reports. The relation appeared to cause a conflict of interest, with many doubting that Jones could be unbiased in her investigation with her ties to Cuomo's circle.

One of the accusers, Charlotte Bennett, a 25-year-old former aide to the governor, told the Times that Cuomo had asked her inappropriate questions about her sex life while she was working for him.

Cuomo responded to the allegations saying that he "never made advances toward Ms. Bennett, nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate."

Last week another former Cuomo aide, Lindsey Boylan, detailed a similar account of repeated harassment from the Governor, including an unsolicited kiss on the lips, according to the Times.