A top economic development aide to Gov. Cuomo has resigned suddenly after being accused of sexual harassment — for the second time in his career — and paying $50,000 in hush money.
Former Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, the Buffalo director of the Empire State Development agency, issued a statement denying the harassment charge, while admitting he had “an inappropriate relationship.”
“I have made many mistakes in my life. Having a consensual and inappropriate relationship with somebody was wrong and something I regret,” Hoyt said.
He called the harassment claims “categorically untrue,” but said he made a payoff to keep the entire matter private.
“When I attempted to end the relationship she threatened me. At that point, over a year ago, my wife and I agreed to a settlement to avoid public embarrassment to our family,” he said.
Hoyt, 55, had previously been engulfed in a scandal while in the Assembly, where he had an affair with a 23-year-old student intern that began in 2003 and continued through early 2005. The
Assembly then barred him from hiring interns for his office.
Cuomo’s office said a woman from another state agency filed a sexual harassment complaint against Hoyt, who is married, and said it took the claim seriously.
“When the complainant made these allegations, they were immediately referred to the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations for an investigation,” Cuomo spokeswoman Dani Lever said in a statement.
“At the same time Mr. Hoyt was instructed to have no further interaction with the complainant and to cooperate fully with the investigation.”
The case was then referred to the state Inspector General’s Office office. When investigators there were unable to obtain an interview the accuser, the complaint was referred to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics for further action, Lever said.
“With the investigation still pending, Mr. Hoyt separated from state service,” Lever said.
But the woman, 51, told the Buffalo News that it was she who wanted to end the relationship and she blasted state officials’ for not aggressively pursuing her case.
“I’m upset that he could walk away and everybody is saying how great he is,” said the woman, whose name wasn’t disclosed.
“And I’m upset that the no one from the state returned my calls and now all of a sudden everybody does. That is mind blowing to me.”
Hoyt served nearly 20 years in the Assembly before becoming Cuomo’s Buffalo regional economic development director in 2011.
He resigned abruptly on Monday, saying he was looking for a job in the private sector.