Calls for Cuomo’s removal amass after AG James’ bombshell harassment findings

Demands for Gov. Cuomo to resign or be promptly removed from office poured in Tuesday after New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her investigators have corroborated allegations that the governor sexually harassed several women.

Mayor de Blasio reiterated calls for Cuomo to step down just after James’ report was released, and several other high-profile pols including Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Gregory Meeks and Tom Suozzi didn’t take long to join the chorus.

“It is beyond clear that Andrew Cuomo is not fit to hold office and can no longer serve as governor,” de Blasio said. “He must resign, and if he continues to resist and attack the investigators who did their jobs, he should be impeached immediately.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

Schumer and Gillibrand called the probe “thorough and professional” and said it uncovered violations of state and federal law.

“No elected official is above the law,” they said in a joint statement. “The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor’s office. We continue to believe that the governor should resign.”

In a joint statement that amounted to another gut-punch to the governor, Jeffries, Meeks and Suozzi called the AG’s probe “complete, thorough and professional” and said it found Cuomo “engaged in abusive behavior toward women, including subordinates, created a hostile work environment and violated state and federal law.”

This photo from Thursday, July 18, 2019, shows Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y. and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., departing a news conference at Capitol Hill in Washington. Schumer and Gillibrand, and most of the other 29 members of New York's congressional delegation, have called for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign over allegations of sexual harassment.
This photo from Thursday, July 18, 2019, shows Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y. and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., departing a news conference at Capitol Hill in Washington. Schumer and Gillibrand, and most of the other 29 members of New York’s congressional delegation, have called for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign over allegations of sexual harassment. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

“The time has come for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to do the right thing for the people of New York State and resign,” they said.

Mariann Wang, an attorney representing two of Cuomo’s alleged victims, praised James’ office for an “extraordinarily thorough and detailed” 168-page report that spells out the damning findings of her probe into the governor.

“Cuomo’s misogyny and abuse cannot be denied. He has been doing this for years, without any repercussions,” Wang said. “He should not be in charge of our government and should not be in any position of power over anyone else.”

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (Theodore Parisienne)

Several other elected officials echoed Wang’s sentiment.

“Governor Cuomo used his office to sexually assault, harass, intimidate, and humiliate his employees. He is wholly unfit to serve and must be removed from office immediately,” said Queens Assemblyman Ron Kim, a Democrat who alleges the governor personally threatened him last year after he criticized his administration’s pandemic policies. “There is no measure left to hide this truth: the governor broke the law so we must hold him accountable.”

Alongside James’ probe, the State Assembly has been conducting an impeachment investigation into Cuomo.

That probe is expected to ramp up significantly in light of James declaring in her office’s report that Cuomo violated “state and federal laws” by sexually harassing 11 women, many of whom are current or former aides.

Cuomo, who has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, did not immediately offer public comment after the release of James’ report.

Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president and Democratic mayoral nominee, also did not immediately weigh in on the report’s findings. Adams and Cuomo recently held a press conference in Brooklyn together aimed at addressing the rise of gun violence in the city.

Brooklyn Councilman Brad Lander, who’s expected to take over as the next city comptroller in January, lamented the fact that Cuomo is still in office even though his alleged victims first came forward with harassment claims six months ago.

“Gov. Cuomo should have resigned in March,” Lander said. “He should resign now. If he does not, he should be impeached.”

New York State Senator Michael Gianaris (D-Queens)
New York State Senator Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) (Michael M Santiago/GettyImages/Getty Images)

Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said the report shows that Cuomo “engaged in disturbing and unacceptable behavior.”

“Andrew Cuomo lacks the integrity required to be the leader of our state and can no longer serve as New York’s governor,” he said. “He must heed the calls of so many New York leaders and resign.”

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