New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s chief lawyer is leaving his government amid scandals that have resulted in Cuomo’s impeachment calls and resignation.
Governor Kumiki Gibson’s adviser, who has served in this role since 2019, will accept a non-profit job after she leaves the government on Friday.
It is time that 76 New York lawmakers from both sides resign and / or impeachment, according to an analysis by Fox News. Of these, 43 New York lawmakers are specifically calling for impeachment.
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“I informed the Executive Board a month ago that I planned to leave the state service and accept a position with a nationally recognized nonprofit,” Gibson said in a statement. “It was an honor and privilege to work for the governor and the people of the state of New York. I remain deeply impressed by the talent and dedication of my legal team and I will be forever grateful to have the opportunity to serve New Yorkers.”
Gibson is the latest member of the Cuomo administration to leave, after announcements that press secretary Caitlin Girouard, interim political adviser Erin Hammond and adviser to the COVID-19 Response Task Force, Gareth Rhodes, are leaving.
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None of the departing officials said they were leaving due to the current pressures the governor faces. Rhodes said “it was time, given the progress of the vaccination program and the continuing decline in Covid’s numbers” and Girouard said he had planned to leave more than a month ago.
Gibson will be replaced for the time being by new interim advisor Beth Garvey. Garvey has held management positions since 2019, including special advisor and senior advisor to the governor.
Cuomo praised Gibson and Garvey in a statement released on Monday.
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“Beth Garvey is a true civil servant and a brilliant legal mind who has been an integral member of this government since she joined him,” said Cuomo. “As we start to turn the corner with this pandemic, there is still a lot of work to reopen this state as safely and quickly as we can and I thank Beth for her past and future work on behalf of all New Yorkers. Beth is one of the hardest working, most effective civil servants in the state government and New Yorkers are fortunate to have her in this role. I also commend Kumiki Gibson for her hard work, dedication and service to the people of this great state and I wish her well only the best begins this new chapter.
Cuomo, for his part, refuses to resign, despite growing pressure to do so. Nearly 50 state legislators pushed for his resignation or impeachment, with majority leader in the state Senate, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, saying on Sunday that the governor “must resign”.
Remy Numa and The Associated Press of Fox News contributed to this report.