NEW YORK Governor Andrew Cuomo faced renewed calls for his resignation today, including from within his own party, as he was accused of sexual harassment by a third woman.

Democratic Party Congresswoman Kathleen Rice added her name to the calls for him to step down, saying: “The time has come. The governor must resign,” after he was accused of touching a photographer inappropriately at a wedding.

Anna Ruch claimed Mr Cuomo placed his hands on her back and appeared aggressive when she asked him to remove them. He then touched her face and asked to kiss her.

“I was so confused, shocked and embarrassed,” she said, describing the unwanted attention.

Mr Cuomo said in a statement that he was sorry that some of his actions “have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation.”

Investigations have opened into allegations of sexual harassment made by two former aides, including being touched, kissed on the lips and being asked to play strip poker.

Sexual harassment claims have dogged US politicians. Former president Donald Trump has been accused of accused of rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment, including non-consensual kissing or groping, by at least 25 women since the 1970s.

In 2019 former staffer Tara Reade accused Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in his Capitol Hill office in 1993. 

She said that Mr Biden pushed her against a wall, kissed her, put his hand under her skirt and penetrated her with his fingers without consent. He denied the allegations.