Senator Kirsten Gillibrand – who in 2017 led calls for Democratic colleague Al Franken to resign on charges of sexual misconduct – said on Sunday that she finally demanded that Governor Andrew Cuomo resign because of his own harassment scandal due to the need to leadership amid the pandemic coronavirus.
Gillibrand, a junior United States senator from New York, was criticized for waiting until Friday to ask for Cuomo’s resignation, despite being at the forefront of the effort to overthrow Franken, the Saturday Night Live hunk who became a lawmaker who represented Minnesota.
Speaking during an unrelated press conference on Sunday in Midtown Manhattan, Gillibrand said he finally decided to speak out against Cuomo because he felt it was important for New York to be led by someone capable of giving the pandemic his full attention.
“Every situation is different,” said Gillibrand, questioning how the charges against Cuomo compare to those against Franken, who finally resigned after several women accused him of improper physical contact.
“What is unique about this moment is that we are in the midst of the worst crisis in our lives.
“Focused leadership is needed and you need the support of your government partners.”
Seven women – including five current or former Cuomo employees – have accused the governor of inappropriate statements or physical contact in recent weeks.
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers had already begged Cuomo to step down when Gillibrand and his fellow New York senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, decided to make their own call on Friday.
“Because of multiple credible allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his partners in the government, as well as the people of New York,” she said on Sunday, doubling her explanation. “That’s why I believe that the governor needs to resign.”
If Cuomo resigns, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will take over as governor under state law.
But until Friday, Cuomo, now in his third term, said he had no intention of resigning, promising to see New York through its public health crisis.
Apologizing for inappropriate comments in the workplace, he vehemently denied any inappropriate physical contact.