The New York City mayoral race continues to ramp up in intensity – and during the second debate Wednesday, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani turned the heat up even more.
There has always been a great deal of contention between the assemblyman and Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who lost this past June’s Democratic primary to Mamdani but who has remained in the race for mayor as an independent candidate.
But during one particularly heated exchange last night in a segment when candidates were allowed to directly ask their competitors one question, Mamdani brought up Cuomo’s numerous sexual harassment allegations – and made into more than another dig at his opposition.
“In 2021, 13 different women who worked in your administration credibly accused you of of sexual harassment,” he began. “Since then, you have spent more than $20 million in tax payer funds to defend yourself – all while describing these allegations as entirely political.”
A familiar refrain from Mamdani, who has sought to cast Cuomo as untrustworthy and unworthy of the office. But it’s what he said next that turned the moment into something more impactful. “You have even gone so far as to legally go after these women. One of those women, Charlotte Bennett, is here in the audience this evening,” he said, adding that Cuomo reportedly attempted to access records of her gynecological visits.
Mamdani concluded, as the disclosure sent a ripple of surprise through the audience: “She cannot speak up for herself because you lodged a defamation case against her. I, however, can speak. What do you say to the 13 that you sexually harassed?”
This is, quite simply, not something men do with other men. Not within their social circles, and certainly not in any public fashion. It’s not just my anecdotal observation – studies have shown that men will decline to intervene in such situations due to concerns over their social standing, or because they do not feel a responsibility to do so.
The potential social consequences make for particularly powerful deterrents, Harvard researchers say, pointing to “a fear of … being seen as a wimp or weak by other men, or of violating the ‘bro code.’” They add, “This implicit rule of behavior governs many man-man relationships, both personal and professional, and perpetuates a sexist workplace culture, compelling men to support other men – including their bad behavior – at all costs.”
What really stuck out to me about Mamdani’s debate moment, though – what negated the cynic within me that would write it off as a mere political stunt to win more votes – was his framing, and his decision to intentionally speak as a voice for a presently voiceless person.
As we’ve seen, quite recently in fact, there is great importance in giving women ways to tell their own stories. Survivors of deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein have been talking publicly with increasing frequency about the need to release files around his investigation, which contain the names of the powerful individuals Epstein catered to – including President Donald Trump.
Our society so rarely sees such men held accountable for their wrongs – we so rarely see consequences suffered at all, and certainly not lasting ones. Comedian Louis C.K. is still booked, and has won a Grammy since his allegations were made public; actor Jonathan Majors is presently on a comeback tour following a brutal assault; director Woody Allen’s projects remain financed despite decades-old accusations; and yes, Cuomo is still a top contender for an office that would have him overseeing one of the world’s most globally influential cities.
In response to Mamdani’s ask, Cuomo said that “if you want to be in government, you have to be serious and mature,” a somewhat baffling first response, before noting that the charges were dropped in 2022 due to a lack of evidence to meet the burden of proof, despite the complainants being declared credible and cooperative by the court.
Ultimately, it was Cuomo at the mic, and his accuser, Bennett, left silent in the audience. But these men cannot muzzle every woman, no matter how hard they try, or how much money and influence they throw at the matter.
Just this week, Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, “Nobody’s Girl,” debuted. In it, she details the horrors she endured at the unwelcome hands of politicians and more. The book was released posthumously, as Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year – but prior to her passing, she made it clear that publication was “my heartfelt wish.”
Imagine how many more would get their wish to be heard – and could be protected – if men became more inclined to follow Mamdani’s lead. ◼️
