By Jesse McKinley
ALBANY
— The leader of a powerful group of renegade Democrats in the New York
State Senate has been accused by a former staff member of forcibly
kissing her outside an Albany bar in 2015.
The allegation surfaced in a HuffPost article
on Wednesday, just minutes after the senator, Jeffrey D. Klein, held an
extraordinary conference call with reporters to pre-emptively deny the
accusation. Mr. Klein then released an investigative memorandum by his
lawyers asserting that the former staff member had been drinking and
behaving unusually that evening.
The
woman, Erica Vladimer, told the HuffPost that Mr. Klein had kissed her
against her will while the two were having a celebratory post-budget
cigarette outside Justin’s bar in downtown Albany with other staff
members and lawmakers.
“All
of a sudden there was a hand on the back of my head and he shoved his
tongue down my throat,” Ms. Vladimer, 30, told the HuffPost. “In my head
it lasted forever, I don’t think it lasted even three seconds.”
Click here for the full article.
Statement from Governor Andrew Cuomo
"Every allegation of sexual misconduct must be taken seriously. I agree with Senator Klein and with Senator Krueger that this disturbing situation should be investigated, and I believe it should be done immediately and independently."
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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