Wednesday morning chairman @CharlesLavineNY and I will be announcing the hiring of a law firm to assist the Assembly’s Judiciary Committee in investigating Governor Cuomo’s impeachment investigation. As I said, we intend to conduct a quick and thorough investigation.
– Carl E. Heastie (@CarlHeastie) March 17, 2021
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden said in an exclusive interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News on Tuesday that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should step down if an investigation confirms allegations that he committed sexual harassment.
“I know you said you wanted the investigation to continue,” Stephanopoulos told Biden, referring to an investigation by the New York attorney general over Cuomo’s allegations of harassing several women. “If the investigation confirms the women’s allegations, should he resign?”
“Yes,” replied the president. “I think he will probably end up being sued as well.”
In addition, one of Andrew Cuomo’s accusers appeared on a radio program to talk about his allegations against the distressed governor.
Former aide Karen Hinton spoke on WNYC radio, saying that Cuomo was “excited” when he hugged her.
“He approached me and hugged me very tightly, for a long time and got excited,” she said. “And I felt extremely uncomfortable and really shocked about it.”
RELATED: Schumer, Gillibrand, Join the Dems to Call for Cuomo’s Resignation
Majority leader in the US Senate, Charles Schumer, repeated his call on Tuesday for the governor to step down, saying Cuomo had lost his partners’ trust in the government.
In addition, state Senate majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins reiterated her position that Governor Cuomo should step down, but she said she would continue to work with him in the meantime.
“The governor is known for who he is and for making sure you know exactly what he feels,” she said. “So this Andrew Cuomo is certainly someone I met. But, as I said, I am not intimidated.”
Another former aide met with investigators on Monday to discuss his allegations of sexual harassment.
Former aide Charlotte Bennett met with investigators via Zoom for more than four hours, with her lawyer, Debra Katz, releasing the following statement after questioning.
“She detailed her allegations of sexual harassment and provided investigators with more than 120 pages of contemporary records, as well as other examples of documentary evidence, to support her charges against Governor Cuomo and his senior team,” said Katz.
She says investigators have moved quickly – and sensitively – to get to the heart of the charges.
“We remain confident that their investigation will substantiate Charlotte’s allegations of sexual harassment against Governor Cuomo, as well as the failure of her senior team to comply with mandatory reporting requirements under the very laws he signed,” said Katz . “She also provided detailed information about the sexually hostile work environment that the governor promoted in his offices in Manhattan and Albany and his deliberate effort to create rivalries and tension between the employees he paid attention to. New information surfaced today it was the governor’s concern about the size of his hands and what the large size of his hands indicated to Charlotte and other members of his team. , but also in the culture of fear, abuse and secrecy that he and his senior staff have cultivated. To that end, we have full confidence in the investigation and the investigators. you are out there – to present what you have experienced. And for those who have observed the behavior, we recommend that you do the same. “
Seven women accused the governor of some form of sexual harassment or improper touch.
Last Monday, Jill Basinger, the lawyer for Lindsey Boylan, another of Cuomo’s accusers, released a statement saying he met with investigators last weekend.
“Ms. Boylan was interviewed last weekend by investigators appointed by the Attorney General’s office,” she said. “It is clear from the interview that the investigators are acting quickly and taking their work seriously. We are satisfied with the scope of the investigation and the consideration and depth of their questioning.”
RELATED: With Governor Cuomo under fire, No. 2 Kathy Hochul steps carefully
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