Andrew Cuomo is shutting down rumors that he left beloved family dog Captain behind at the governor's mansion ahead of his last day in office.
After it was reported that the embattled politician asked a mansion staffer at the Albany, New York, residence to take the 3-year-old Siberian mix pooch, aides clarified he was just looking for a temporary dog sitter while he goes on vacation following his exit.
The aide also pointed out that the three-term Democrat is dealing with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Henry, per Newsweek, alleging Cuomo's too busy to also care for his pet.
In addition, Cuomo addressed the puppy controversy on Monday, August 23, explaining: "Some people just can't get the facts straight. Yes, I was downstate monitoring storm response for a few days, but Captain and I are a man and his dog."
The soon-to-be former New York Governor insisted via Twitter: "[Captain] is part of our family and that's the way it will always be."
Cuomo announced he was stepping down from office two weeks ago following a slew of sexual harassment claims and the damning report laid out by the Attorney General that concluded he "sexually harassed several women."
The father-of-three's last day in office was Monday, August 23, and he's been staying at one of his sister's places in Westchester County for the past few days. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul became the New York governor at midnight on Tuesday, making her the first female governor for the state.
While Cuomo's been making headlines over the past few months for the sexual harassment claims lodged against him, rumors that he left his furry friend behind certainly didn't help his attempt at getting back into the public's good graces.
Cuomo may have received some praise for his decision to resign following his scandal; however, his half-hearted apology for his despicable actions during his August 10 press conference most likely didn't get him far.
“In my mind, I've never crossed a line with anyone, but I didn't realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn,” he stated while maintaining his innocence despite the several women who have come forward with claims against him. “There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn't fully appreciate, and I should have. No excuses.”
