Time's Up co-founders helped Gov Cuomo in drafting letter attacking accuser ...

Time's Up co-founders helped Gov Cuomo in drafting letter attacking accuser ...
Time's Up co-founders helped Gov Cuomo in drafting letter attacking accuser ...

Two co-founders of the women's advocacy group Time's Up allegedly helped New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office draft a letter seeking to discredit allegations from one of his sexual harassment accusers, according to the AG report.

Cuomo's staff reportedly sought the help of Time's Up Legal Defense Fund founder Roberta Kaplan and Time's Up CEO Tina Tchen while drafting a letter denying allegations made against the governor by former Cuomo aide Lyndsey Boylan.

Boylan had been the first of Cuomo's accusers to come forward publicly in February with allegations that Cuomo had sexually harassed her, making comments on her looks and at one point asking her if she would play a game of strip poker with him. 

The alleged involvement of Tchen and Kaplan in Cuomo's denial letter, was revealed in Attorney General Letitia James' report, released on Tuesday, which found Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women.

In her 165-page report, James stated that a group of advisors for Cuomo last December, sought to pen a letter that, 'denied the legitimacy of Ms. Boylan’s allegations, impugned her credibility, and attacked her claims as politically motivated.'   

Staff for Gov. Andrew Cuomo recruited the help of Time's Up co-founders Roberta Kaplan during an effort to discredit allegations of sexual harassment by former Cuomo aide Lyndsey Boylan

Tina Tchen

Staff for Gov. Andrew Cuomo recruited the help of Time's Up co-founders Roberta Kaplan (left) and Tina Tchen during an effort to discredit allegations of sexual harassment by former Cuomo aide Lyndsey Boylan

Boylan (pictured) had been the first of Cuomo's accusers to come forth publicly with allegations that he sexually harassed her. In the weeks before she went public with the accusations, staff for Cuomo sought to draft a letter discrediting her claims, and asked Kaplan and Tchen for help crafting it

Boylan (pictured) had been the first of Cuomo's accusers to come forth publicly with allegations that he sexually harassed her. In the weeks before she went public with the accusations, staff for Cuomo sought to draft a letter discrediting her claims, and asked Kaplan and Tchen for help crafting it

Top Cuomo Aide Melissa DeRosa testified that Cuomo initially drafted the letter by hand, although the governor testified that he did not 'remember handwriting any document,' but that he 'participated in drafts.' 

The letter was intended to be sent to former colleagues of Boylan and Cuomo for them to sign, and then published, possibly as an op-ed. 

DeRosa testified that she had misgivings about the letter, and worried that it would 'backfire,' so Cuomo asked her to reach out to Kaplan for input.   

'According to Ms. DeRosa, Ms. Kaplan read the letter to the head of the advocacy group Times Up [Tchen], and both of them allegedly suggested that, without the statements about Ms. Boylan’s interactions with male colleagues, the letter was fine,' James said in her report.

Time's Up is a charity that raises money to support victims of sexual harassment, and was formed at the beginning of 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement.  

Staff for Cuomo, however, continued to have misgivings, except for Cuomo ally Steve Cohen, who had said with some edits 'it would be acceptable.' 

Cuomo can be seen with Tchen (second from right) in 2019, upon the governor signing an extension for the statute of limitations for rape in the state. Tchen said her organization had worked with Cuomo on the legislation

Cuomo can be seen with Tchen (second from right) in 2019, upon the governor signing an extension for the statute of limitations for rape in the state. Tchen said her organization had worked with Cuomo on the legislation

'Ms. DeRosa reported back to the Governor that Ms. Kaplan and the head of Times Up thought the letter was okay

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