The wife of leading New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang expressed support Wednesday for a woman who came forward to accuse one of her husband’s rivals of sexual harassment two decades ago.
“When a survivor speaks publicly about their experiences, they put everything at risk. Whether you tell the world, tell one person you trust, or tell no one at all, your experience matters. The truth matters,” tweeted Evelyn Yang, who revealed last year she was sexually assaulted by her obstetrician-gynecologist.
“No amount of gaslighting can take that away,” she wrote.
Mrs. Yang’s comments were part of the wave of outrage that inundated Stringer’s mayoral campaign after accuser Jean Kim came forward with bombshell charges that the longtime Manhattan politician sexually harassed her during his failed 2001 campaign for public advocate.
Stringer countered with a press conference where he claimed his relationship with Kim was consensual.
Still, the allegations pushed one of Stringer’s earliest and most vocal supporters, state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens), to pull her support.
Scott Stringer attends a rally by coalition of union members and activists organized to support his bid for mayor at City Hall Park in New York on April 24, 2021. Lev Radin/Sipa USA via AP“Jean Kim bravely came forward today to share her truth and it is ouur duty to listen and investigate fully,” she said in a statement. “This kind of behavior is unacceptable in any workplace and those who have perpetrated such acts must be held accountable for their actions, not given bigger platforms.”
Three other high-profile women supporters of Stringer’s Gracie Mansion bid — state Sens. Alessandra Biaggi (D-The Bronx) and Julia Salazar (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou (D-Manhattan) — also said they were reevaluating their support.
“As survivors of childhood sexual assault, we believe survivors,” they said in a joint statement. “Our commitment to a harassment free government, workplace, and society is steadfast, and our zero tolerance standard regarding sexual assault applies to abusers like Andrew Cuomo, if not more so, to our friends.”
Meanwhile, the top women candidates battling Stringer for the Democratic mayoral nomination — Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia and Maya Wiley, a former top advisor to Mayor Bill de Blasio — offered blistering assessments of the allegations against the Comptroller.
“It takes tremendous courage for anyone to come forward. I support Jean Kim, I believe Jean Kim, and I commend her bravery for speaking truth to power,” said Garcia in a statement, who called on Stringer to leave the race.
“New Yorkers need and deserve a mayor they can trust, who demonstrates steady, competent, and capable leadership,” she added. “It is clear that Scott Stringer is not that person and that we need more women in leadership and elected office.”
Wiley called the allegations “truly disturbing” and referenced Stringer’s own calls for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign after he was repeatedly accused of sexually harassing staffers in Albany.
Jean Kim, who once worked as an unpaid intern for City Comptroller Scott Stringer, a contender to become New York City’s next mayor, accused him Wednesday of groping her without consent. AP Photo/Mary Altaffer“It feels like every month, we’ve got another elected official going to jail, being accused of harassment or abusing the public’s trust,” Wiley added. “It’s no wonder people lose trust in government when government looks like this.
Scott Stringer, New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate, was accused of sexual assault by a former intern. Mark Lennihan/AP, FileAnother top rival in the Democratic primary, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, called the allegations “deeply troubling,” but did not call for Stringer to bow out of the race.
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer — who, like Stringer, is a mainstay of Upper West Side Democratic politics — offered tepid remarks backing the embattled comptroller.
New York City Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang stands next to his wife, Evelyn Yang last month. Evelyn came out in support of a Scott Stringer sex assault accuser. Getty Images“I’ve know Scott Stringer since he was 14. I didn’t see that in him. I’ve never seen anything close to this. Women have a right to come forward,” she told The Post, noting that she has not yet endorsed in the race.



