The incident was one of the milder episodes of what Trooper #1 called Cuomo’s “flirtatious” and “creepy” behavior. On another occasion he ran the palm of his hand across her stomach, making her feel “completely violated”.

But coming a single day after he had signed the signature sexual harassment bill into law, the encounter in the car highlighted a question at the heart of the unfolding Cuomo affair. How could a leading Democratic politician who presented himself as the standard-bearer of workplace equality and dignity have created what the AG’s report found was a “hostile work environment for women” in which he sexually harassed several current and former employees over years?

And how could he now be waging a one-man battle to discredit the 11 women – Trooper #1 among them – who had the courage to come forward to tell their stories against him?

“It was perverse, it shocks the conscience,” said Alessandra Biaggi, referring to Trooper #1’s experiences in the car.