United States: CFWIJ condemns Governor Cuomo and his team for the constant harass that investigative journalist Lindsay Nielsen faced

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March 2, 2021, New York – Investigative journalist Lindsay Nielsen revealed that she faced threats and damaging harassment by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration. Later, the journalist decided to leave News10, giving the fact that the attacks she faced were one of the reasons for leaving her job. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is utterly dismayed by these vicious attacks against Lindsay. We stand with her and appreciate the journalist’s dedicated work and effort by the time she came across mistreatment from the governor’s team. 

Journalist Lindsay Nielsen took her Twitter account to release her statement. She underlined that she was bullied and had threatening phone calls in the middle of the night by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration. She said, “You have a vendetta against him don’t you!” That was the last time I allowed someone connected to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration to harass and manipulate me.”

She expressed that the harassment she faced was one of the reasons that led her to leave her job at News10. She added, “It was during one of the many accusatory and threatening phone calls I received by his staff members that I realized this behaviour was never going to stop. It was shortly thereafter that I decided to leave my job at News10.” 

During the time she was working at the news outlet, she alleged that she endured personal attacks and threats from the governor’s team. She said, “The late-night phone calls from the administration, the constant threats to call my boss, the incessant bullying to try and get me to stop doing my job and reporting specific stories...it would never end.” 

These vicious attacks were used as ‘deliberate tactics and yet evasive’ she called. “They skimmed the line of inappropriateness ever so delicately as to make you feel like they were acceptable,” she included. 

Lindsay’s statement came after alleged sexual harassment accusations revealed by two former governor staff. The journalist is the third woman who alleged Cuomo and his team’s harassment against her.

Lindsay added to her statement that “I am writing this today to make sure that those involved in this behaviour back then now know that not only was it not acceptable but also that it was damaging. I applaud those who have come forward recently with reports of similar behaviour by the same administration.”

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns Andrew Cuomo and his administration’s behaviour against the journalist. Threatening a journalist over a story she is pursuing is unprofessional, and more importantly against the very spirit of democracy. We stand in solidarity with Lindsay and all other women journalists who continue to practice journalism passionately amidst all the threats and attacks.