Andrew Cuomo's book publisher has stopped all future promotion of his self-congratulatory COVID-19 memoir as he faces allegations of sexual harassment and a cover up of the virus death toll in nursing homes.
Crown Publishing Group has confirmed it has 'paused active support' of American Crisis: Leadership Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic and 'have no plans to reprint or reissue in paperback'.
In a statement to the New York Times a spokesperson for the company, a division of Penguin Random House, said the decision was a result of 'the ongoing investigation into N.Y.S. reporting of Covid-related fatalities in nursing homes'.
Cuomo, 63, faces a federal investigation into claims of a cover up of the true COVID-19 death toll in nursing homes and an independent investigation into claims of sexual harassment by former aides.
It was reported Monday that Cuomo received a seven figure advance for the book - after Crown believed it had found 'another political star'.
Cuomo, 63, faces a federal investigation into claims of a cover up of the true COVID-19 death toll in nursing homes and an independent investigation into claims of sexual harassment by former aides. He is pictured at a vaccination site at the Javits Center on Monday
But sales were already said to be plummeting in the wake of the dual scandals plaguing the New York governor, according to Vanity Fair. NPD BookScan data shows around 400 copies were sold between January 23 and February 27.
A spokesman for BookScan told the outlet: 'We can confirm that the title's sales have dropped in the last five weeks, and for context, this is not reflective of a larger market trend.'
The book had already been widely panned when it was published in October last year as the virus continued to rage in the state and around the world. Since its publication more than 15,000 New Yorkers have died from the virus.
It focused on Cuomo's Emmy award winning daily briefings and his handling of the crisis from March to June last year. Cuomo had been widely praised for his pandemic response but has seen a sharp fall from grace in recent weeks.
He did address nursing home deaths in the book, writing: 'Republicans needed an offense to distract from the narrative of their botched federal response — and they needed it badly. So they decided to attack Democratic governors and blame them for nursing home deaths.'
Months later it was announced Cuomo and his team would face a federal probe into their handling of data surrounding the care homes.
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday appointed Anne L. Clark and Joon Kim on Monday to look into accusations against the Democratic governor made by several women, including three former staffers in his administration.
The investigation is likely to take two months.
'These are serious allegations that demand a rigorous and impartial investigation. We will act judiciously and follow the facts wherever they lead,' Kim said in a statement released by James´ office.
The allegations include asking questions about the women's love lives and discussing his own, making inappropriate comments about their appearance and, in some cases, subjecting them to unwanted kisses or too-intimate hugs.
Cuomo has denied touching anyone inappropriately, and said some of the allegations are false.
But he has apologized for engaging in what he called office 'banter' that some women 'misinterpreted' as flirting. He has said he didn´t realize he was making anyone uncomfortable.
The governor has said he will 'fully cooperate' with the investigation into the allegations and again apologized for his actions, adding that he 'fully supports a woman's right to come forward.'
Ana Liss, 35, (pictured left) previously served as Cuomo's policy and operations aide between 2013 and 2015 but claims he subjected her to sexual misconduct during her time in his administration. Karen Hinton (right) claims the governor summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event in 2000 before she managed to escape
On Monday, he appeared at the Javits Center - which was supposed to be used as a field hospital during the worst of the pandemic but was never filled - where he said more vaccines had been given out there than anywhere in America this weekend.
The media was not allowed to ask questions during the appearance.
Cuomo on Sunday remained defiant, vowing not to step down in a call with reporters - despite a growing list of 50 New York lawmakers calling on him to step down or be impeached.
Two more women came forward with allegations on Saturday, bringing the total to five and prompting State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to call for Cuomo's resignation Sunday.
On Friday, his office was also forced to deny claims his aides massaged the data on nursing home deaths back in July in order to hide the true extent of the crisis. The same day, New York State lawmakers passed a bill stripping Cuomo of his emergency powers.
Charlotte Bennett, 25, worked as an aide for Cuomo. She claims he sexually harassed her and left her 'terrified'
Anna Ruch, 33, (left) claimed Cuomo behaved inappropriately at a Manhattan wedding in September 2019. Lindsey Boylan, 36, (right) claims Cuomo commented on her appearance inappropriately, kissed her without her consent and went out of his way to touch her on her lower back, arms and leg
Karen Hinton, 62, and Ana Liss, 35, both made their separate allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo, 63, on Sunday.
Hinton told the Washington Post about a 2000 incident when she said Cuomo summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event.
She said she tried to pull away from Cuomo when he pulled her back and held her before she managed to escape the room.
Liss, who previously served as Cuomo's policy and operations aide between 2013 and 2015, told the Wall Street Journal that during her time in his administration, the governor had subjected her to unsolicited advances, including touching her lower back, kissing her hand and quizzing her about her love life.
Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Cuomo said Hinton's allegations were 'not true' and labeled her a 'long-time political adversary of mine'.
'There is no way I resign. Let the attorney general do the investigation and go from there,' Cuomo said, adding that he will not be 'distracted' by the allegations.
Amid the mounting allegations, other aides spoke to both the Journal and Post about the 'toxic' work environment allegedly cultivated by Cuomo in his office.
It included testimonies from two male aides who claimed the governor would berate them using explicit language, calling them 'pu**ies' and saying that they 'have no balls'.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo appeared at the Javits Center in New York City on Monday
Many of those aides said they would only speak on the grounds of anonymity because they were fearful of Cuomo's 'wrath' and his power to destroy careers, the Post reported.
Prior to Liss and Hinton, Charlotte Bennett, 25, revealed this week that Cuomo had questioned her about her sex life and whether she had relationships with older men.
Lindsey Boylan also revealed in a February Medium post that the governor had tried to kiss her on the lips in his office and suggested they play strip poker during a 2017 flight. Cuomo's office has said these claims are false.
A third accuser, Anna Ruch, 33, then came forward telling the New York Times that Cuomo put his hands on her face and asked if he could kiss her after meeting her at a September 2019 wedding.
The governor apologized for making the women feel uncomfortable during a press conference last week and claimed that the actions were part of his general behavior with everyone.
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