By: Ellen Cans

A bomb shell report on Monday made by the NY Times, shows the upstate pro-Cuomo group named We Decide New York, was persuaded by ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s sister to discredit the women who had made sexual harassment claims against the former governor.

As per the NY Post, the non-profit group had launched a vicious campaign to discredit the women whose sexual harassment allegations had played a significant factor in Mr. Cuomo’s disgraceful resignation as governor.  The Times reportedly reviewed some 4,000 emails and text messages, which led it to make the claim that it was Madeline Cuomo, 58, Cuomo’s younger sister, who repeatedly sent messages to the group egging them on, to portray “bimbo photos” of the “unsophisticated girls” who had potentially ruined her brother’s political aspirations.  “Your life will be dissected like a frog in a HS science class,” one We Decide New York member tweeted to accuser Charlotte Bennett, tagging a photo of Bennett allegedly dancing in lingerie.  According to the report, the email was sent by a member of the group but was strongly instigated by Madeline Cuomo.

The report claims that Madeline started steering the grass roots activist group beginning in the spring of 2021, a few months before Mr. Cuomo agreed to resign.  Madeline had reportedly told a member of the group, “No respectable woman would EVER pose like that.”  “Bimbo photos,” she had said. “Really despicable… Unsophisticated girls.”

Some We Decide members, many of whom are older ladies, told the Times they now feel they were played by Madeline Cuomo.  “Madeline was demanding,” group member Sandy Behan, 71, told the Times. “She wanted to make sure we toed the line and we did. This was a means for her to get information out to benefit her brother.”  “She didn’t want to be my girlfriend,” Behan added. “She was using us.”

The 65-year-old former governor was compelled to resign in August 2021 during his third term, amid mounting sexual harassment allegations by several women, as well as allegations that he directed his staff to inappropriately withhold or misrepresent information regarding the effects of COVID-19 on nursing home deaths. It has not been demonstrated that the former governor had been part of Madeline’s scheme to discredit his accusers.  His sister, however, did make mention of the former governor in several messages.

“I just hung up with A again and he wants you both to know how much he appreciates ALL your hard work and willingness to get this out today on LABOR DAY of all days!!!!” read one message on Sept. 5, 2022.  “You ladies share the same work ethic,” Madeline wrote. “I believe we were all raised quite similarly which accounts for our like-minded sensibilities.”  “We all wish we didn’t have to go negative ever,” Madeline Cuomo allegedly wrote. “But it’s clear they’re never going to stop and leave us alone to do GOOD WORK until THEIR truth is exposed.”

In a statement to the Times, Madeline Cuomo acknowledged she was active with We Decide, adding that she was determined to “protect her family”.  She said her brother was not involved.  “I acted on my own with the women of WDNY without his involvement in any way,” she said. “Unfortunately, due to internal dissension, the group fractured and I haven’t worked with the group since.”