Topline
Almost the entire Democratic congressional delegation from New York called for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign Friday—including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, House Judiciary Committee chair Rep. Jerrold Nadler and Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand—as the governor faces an impeachment inquiry following a sixth allegation against him of sexual misconduct and assault.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on March 8, 2021 in New York ... [+]
Key Facts
Ocasio-Cortez, Nadler, Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Sean Patrick Maloney—who chair the House Oversight Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, respectively—and Reps. Mondaire Jones, Jamaal Bowman, Nydia Velazquez, Grace Meng, Adriano Espaillat, Antonio Delgado, Brian Higgins, Paul Tonko, Richie Torres, Joe Morelle and Yvette Clarke all released statements Friday urging the governor’s resignation; Rep. Kathleen Rice had already previously called for Cuomo to step down.
New York’s other House Democrats offered less resolute statements: Rep. Tom Suozzi said in a statement Cuomo was “entitled to due process,” while Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said the governor “must seriously consider whether he can continue to effectively lead the state” and Rep. Gregory Meeks said Cuomo should resign if he cannot “effectively govern without distractions.”
Schumer and Gillibrand called Friday for Cuomo to resign after most of the House Democrats had already done so, saying the leader had “lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York.”
“Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of the people of New York,” Nadler said in a statement, noting that while there’s a formal investigation underway into the charges against him, “the question before us is squarely a political judgement.”
Ocasio-Cortez and Bowman noted in a joint statement that the most recent allegations against Cuomo, in which an aide claimed he groped her at the governor’s mansion, is “alarming” and “raises concerns about the present safety and well-being of the administration’s staff.”
The statements come after 59 New York State Democrats called for the governor’s resignation Thursday, along with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the National Organization for Women.
Crucial Quote
“After two accounts of sexual assault, four accounts of harassment, the Attorney General’s investigation finding the Governor’s admin hid nursing home data from the legislature & public, we agree with the 55+ members of the New York State legislature that the Governor must resign,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter Friday.
Chief Critic
Cuomo hit back at the lawmakers during a press call Friday and emphasized he would not resign. New Yorkers “should not have confidence in politicians who take a position without knowing the facts or substance,” Cuomo said, repeatedly denying the allegations against him and the suggestion he had harassed or assaulted women. “People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture and the truth.”
What To Watch For
State lawmakers announced plans to launch an impeachment investigation into Cuomo late Thursday. The governor is also facing an investigation from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office into the sexual misconduct allegations, and the Cuomo administration is also reportedly under FBI investigation for withholding data about nursing home Covid-19 deaths.
Key Background
Cuomo has come under increasing scrutiny for his concurrent scandals of the sexual misconduct allegations and his handling of nursing home deaths. Six women have accused the governor of sexual harassment thus far, but the claims that emerged this week were more serious and have been referred to the Albany Police Department, with the Times Union noting the allegations could constitute misdemeanor sexual assault. Cuomo has called the accuser’s allegations “gut wrenching” but denied they took place, and has so far rebuffed all calls for him to resign.
Further Reading
‘I’m Not Going To Resign’ Over Allegations, Cuomo Says, Criticizing ‘Cancel Culture’ (Forbes)
New York Lawmakers To Launch ‘Impeachment Investigation’ Into Cuomo (Forbes)
NOW Joins 59 Legislators Calling For Cuomo’s Resignation (Forbes)
