New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has just lost the support of two of the country’s most powerful Democrats – Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Senators are joining a growing chorus of lawmakers calling for Cuomo’s resignation amid accusations of sexual harassment.
“Facing and overcoming the Covid crisis requires secure and firm leadership. We commend the courageous actions of individuals who have made serious allegations of abuse and misconduct,” said Schumer and Gillibrand in a joint statement.
“Due to the multiple allegations of credible sexual harassment and misconduct, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the trust of his government partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign.”
Cuomo became an international celebrity for his way of dealing with the Coronavirus crisis but after accusations of mismanagement and a series of allegations of sexual harassment, he finds himself isolated and quickly losing support.
On Friday, the three-term governor remained defiant, denying the charges against him and refusing to resign. “I did not do what was alleged. Period,” Cuomo said in a call to reporters. “I never harassed anyone, I never attacked anyone, I never abused anyone.”
“I will not resign. I was not elected by the politicians, I was elected by the people,” added Cuomo. “People know the difference between doing politics, revering culture and the truth.”
The setback comes as the majority of New York City Democrats are calling for Cuomo’s resignation, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Judiciary President Jerry Nadler.
“The repeated accusations against the governor and the way he responded to them made it impossible for him to continue to govern at this time,” Nadler said in a statement. “Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of the people of New York. Governor Cuomo must resign.”
In a joint statement, Ocasio-Cortez and Congressman Jamaal Bowman cited the growing number of complaints against Cuomo, as well as against the government misleading reports deaths of residents of nursing homes COVID-19, as reasons for the governor to resign.
“As members of the New York delegation to the United States House of Representatives, we believe in these women, we believe in reporting, we believe in the Attorney General, and we believe in the fifty-five members of the New York State legislature, including the Leading State Senate of New York. majority, who concluded that Governor Cuomo can no longer lead effectively in the face of so many challenges, “said Ocasio-Cortez and Bowman.
Representatives Nydia Velázquez, Adriano Espaillat, Grace Meng, Mondaire Jones, Carolyn Maloney, Yvette Clarke, Antonio Delgado, Sean Patrick Maloney, Brian Higgins, Ritchie Torres, Joe Morelle and Paul Tonko also asked for his resignation.
Congresswoman Kathleen Rice was the first member of the New York delegation to resign Cuomo on March 1.
The President of the New York Assembly, Carl Heastie, on Thursday, authorized a impeachment investigation in allegations of misconduct he faces, and more than 55 state lawmakers said in a letter on Thursday that they want the governor to leave.
“The budget, the fight against COVID-19 and the restart of the economy depend on clear and reliable leadership,” said the letter. “In light of the governor’s admission of inappropriate behavior and the findings of altered data on deaths in the COVID-19 nursing home, he has lost the confidence of the public and the state legislature, making him ineffective in this most urgent time of need.”
A Quinnipiac poll released earlier this month found that most New Yorkers do not want Cuomo to resign, although they are also dissatisfied with their response to allegations of sexual misconduct. According to the poll, which took place on March 2-3, 55% of New York voters believe he should not resign, although 59% also say he should not run for a fourth term.
The poll also found that 59% of New York voters are dissatisfied with Cuomo’s explanation and apology regarding the allegations, and 86% support the independent investigation by the state attorney general.
Kathryn Watson contributed to this report.