Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday night was clinging on to power, despite his impeachment seeming inevitable after the state Democrats declared that...
Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday night was clinging on to power, despite his impeachment seeming inevitable after the state Democrats declared that they had lost confidence in the governor and would vote against him.
President Joe Biden led calls for Cuomo to resign, echoing demands made by other Democratic Congressional leaders, as one of his most high-profile accusers said she felt 'vindicated' by the attorney general's report.
The governors of neighboring Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut, plus Rhode Island, all joined in the chorus of condemnation. All four are fellow Democrats.
Carl Heastie, the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, said later on Tuesday that Cuomo has lost the confidence of the Democratic majority and 'can no longer remain in office.'
He said he hopes to conclude the impeachment investigation 'as quickly as possible.'
During the video meeting of the state Democrats, which began at 2pm. and stretched for more than two and a half hours, most of the lawmakers who spoke said that they believed enough evidence existed for the Assembly to draw up articles of impeachment as soon as possible, The New York Times reported.
Andrew Cuomo is pictured in January 2020 with Carl Heastie, the Assembly Speaker. On Tuesday Heastie, who had been a strong ally of the governor's, said that he could no longer rule and would be impeached if he did not resign
Heastie, a congressman for the Bronx as well as being Speaker, issued a statement on Tuesday after his caucus met for two and a half hours to discuss how to proceed
Cuomo, who has always denied the allegations, gave a televised address an hour after James' report was released during which he denied all of the claims and called the report a political attack on his character
About 50 or 60 people spoke, the people said, and the discussion focused on the issue of timing: how fast could the Assembly draw up the articles and make them thorough enough for an impeachment trial in the State Senate?
'There was not a single word of support for the governor,' a source told the paper.
Heastie has long been seen as a defender of Cuomo, but on Tuesday felt that the tide had turned.
If Cuomo is impeached, the Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul, would see out the rest of his term, which ends following the November 2022 election.
'The attorney general's investigation has documented repulsive and unlawful behavior by the governor towards multiple women,' said Hochul on Tuesday.
'I believe these brave women and admire their courage coming forward.
'The Assembly will now determine the next steps. Because lieutenant governors stand next in the line of succession, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the process at this moment.'
It will take 76 votes to impeach Cuomo. The 43-member Republican conference would likely support such a move unanimously.
New York Senate Minority and Majority Leaders both called for him to resign.
'The Attorney General's report clearly and concisely documents that Governor Cuomo engaged in disturbing and unacceptable behavior,' Senate Minority Leader Michael Gianaris said.
'Andrew Cuomo lacks the integrity required to be the leader of our state and can no longer serve as New York's Governor.
'He must heed the calls of so many New York leaders and resign.'
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins said: 'This report highlights unacceptable behavior Cuomo and his administration.
'The Governor must resign for the good of the state.
'Now that the investigation is complete, and the allegations have been substantiated, it should be clear to everyone that he can no longer serve as Governor.'
His most powerful ally, Joe Biden, on Tuesday said he had to go.
'I think he should resign,' Biden said, after telling reporters that he stood by his previous statement that if the investigation found accusations of sexual harassment against Cuomo were credible, the New York Democrat should step aside.
The president answered, 'let's take one thing at a time here,' when asked if Cuomo should be impeached and removed from office.
He also demurred when asked if Cuomo should be prosecuted.
Cuomo is contesting a damning report from AG Letitia James that found he did sexually harass 11 women.
He unveiled a photo montage on Tuesday showing him hugging and kissing numerous public figures including Bill Clinton, Obama, and Joe Biden - which the New York governor says is proof that he didn't sexually harass women.
'I've been making the same public gesture all my life. I actually learnt it from my mother and my father,' a defiant Cuomo said on Tuesday, referring to the late New York Governor Mario Cuomo and his widow, Matilda Cuomo.
Cuomo said that while he 'accepts responsibility,' he made no hint of planning to resign.
And following this, one of the 11, Charlotte Bennett, on Tuesday night told CBS she felt 'vindicated' and that he needed to resign.
Charlotte Bennett, who worked for Cuomo last year, told CBS News she felt 'vindicated' by the report
She described his defiant press conference - in which he spent significant time discussing her allegations in particular - as 'propaganda' and self-serving, calling it 'weird' and 'a circus act'.
Cuomo claims it omits facts and is a political attack on him - despite growing calls to step down and the increasing likelihood of impeachment.
Cuomo had used a photo of Biden in his slideshow of touchy-feely behavior, explaining it away as it being just how he is.
When asked being included, Biden replied: 'Look, I'm not going to fly speck this.'
He added: 'I'm sure there were some embraces that were totally innocent, but apparently the attorney general decided there were things that weren't.'
President Joe Biden called on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign during a Q&A session at the White House Tuesday afternoon
Biden said he hadn't spoken to Cuomo on Tuesday.
'I've not read the report. I don't know the detail of it. All I know is the end result,' the president said.
Biden was delivering remarks on COVID-19 and stuck around to answer questions.
Bennett, who worked for him, said it was a relief to be believed.
'Today was so validating and really emotional, and I feel vindicated,' she told CBS.
'It's been a long day, but I'm proud to be a New Yorker right now.
'He's trying to justify himself by making me out to be someone who can't tell the difference between sexual harassment and mentorship.
'We have a report. We have the facts. The governor broke federal and state law when he sexually harassed me and current and former staffers.
'And if he is not willing to step down then we have a responsibility to act and impeach him.
'He sexually harassed me. I am not confused. It is not confusing. I am living in reality. And it is sad to see he is not.'
Cuomo said that he was trying to help Bennett deal with the trauma of a previous sexual assault, but Bennett told CBS this was not the case.
'His intention was trying to sleep with me,' she said, dismissing his explanation of cultural or generational misunderstandings.
'Publicly he would rather play dumb. Privately he knows he sexually harassed staffers.
'And I think it's easier to explain his behavior publicly be saying there was some misunderstanding.'
She added: 'Accepting responsibility means stepping down. I don't believe him. I don't want an apology - it's not necessary. It's fake.
'And his propaganda video was downright weird and unnecessary.'
She said his only concern was 'maintaining the power he has' rather than 'protecting New York'..
Bennett accused him of 'normalizing not only victim blaming, but sexual harassment' and said it was dangerous and 'a circus act.'
'It sends a message that sexual harassment is not important, and not dangerous. It is important, and it's just plain illegal.'
On Tuesday night the Democrat governors of four states in the north east who worked closely with Cuomo during the pandemic said it was time for him to resign.
Ned Lamont of Connecticut (left) and Phil Murphy of New Jersey on Tuesday night called for Cuomo to resign
Pennsylvania's Tom Wolf (left) and Dan McKee of Rhode Island (right) made up the four governors calling on Cuomo to resign
'We are appalled at the findings of the independent investigation by the New York Attorney General. Governor Cuomo should resign from office,' they said.
The statement was signed by Phil Murphy of New Jersey; Ned Lamont of Connecticut; Dan McKee of Rhode Island and Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania.
Their resignation calls came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed the same opinion.
Pelosi called James' investigation 'comprehensive and independent.'
'As always, I commend the women who came forward to speak their truth,' Pelosi said.
'Recognizing his love of New York and the respect for the office he holds, I call upon the Governor to resign.'
Twelve New York representatives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, called on Cuomo to resign
Twelve New York representatives - including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Carolyn Maloney, the chair of the House Oversight Committee, and Jerry Nadler, chair of the House Judiciary Committee - also all called for him to resign.
James released her long-awaited report into the allegations against embattled Cuomo on Tuesday morning.
It says he sexually harassed 11 women including some whose allegations were not previously known, like two state troopers and an executive assistant who says he groped her breast at the governor's mansion in Albany in November 2020.
James said all of the allegations are corroborated but she has not recommended any criminal charges against him, saying the scope of her work didn't include prosecution.
There has since been an onslaught of calls for him to resign afterwards on both sides of the aisle, including from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who went as far as to call for him to be impeached.
In his address, Cuomo he said he is a 'warm' person who sometimes 'slips' and calls women who work for him 'sweetheart and darling', but insisting he has never been predatory or physical in his interactions with staffers.
His attorney has also released an 85-page rebuttal to the report which she says she will continue to update.
'Even on a quick first review, it is clear that the report purposefully omits key evidence,' said Cuomo's attorney Rita M. Glavin.
In his televised address, Cuomo used a slideshow of images of him hugging and kissing people throughout his life to demonstrate what he described as an affectionate and tactile personality, that he says the women have confused for a sexual predator.
Biden spoke moments after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent out a statement calling on Cuomo to resign
The 168-report was released on Tuesday after a five month investigation by the NY AG. It substantiated the allegations of 11 women who say Cuomo sexually harassed them either by groping them or making inappropriate comments dating back to 2013
New York Attorney General Letitia James announcing her findings on Tuesday after a five month investigation. She said she believes all of the women but she cannot bring criminal charges, instead saying her focus was on determining if the allegations were true
'This has been a long and painful period for me and my family as others feed stories to the press,' he said.
'I never touched anyone inappropriately. The facts are much different to what has been portrayed.
'I am 63 years old. I have lived my entire adult life in public service. That is just not who I am or who I ever have been.'
He went on: 'Trial by newspaper and biased reviews are not the way to find the facts. I welcome the opportunity for a full and fair review before a judge and jury because this just did not happen.'
He had been asked if Cuomo should resign.
In his rebuttal, Cuomo said he would never sexually harass anyone, much less a sexual assault survivor like Charlotte Bennett - one of the accusers - and claimed he has helped a female relative overcome sexual abuse himself.
He said that the women invariably misinterpreted his 'warm' gestures like hugs and kisses, or misunderstood compliments.
After he spoke, critics renewed calls for him to resign and some suggested he should be impeached.
'My first thoughts are with the women who were subject to this abhorrent behavior, and their bravery in stepping forward to share their stories,' said Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York City.
'The Attorney General's detailed and thorough report substantiates many disturbing instances of severe misconduct.
'Andrew Cuomo committed sexual assault and sexual harassment, and intimidated a whistleblower.
'It is disqualifying.
'It is beyond clear that Andrew Cuomo is not fit to hold office and can no longer serve as Governor.
'He must resign, and if he continues to resist and attack the investigators who did their jobs, he should be impeached immediately.'
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released a joint statement calling for Cuomo's resignation.
'As we have said before, the reported actions of the Governor were profoundly disturbing, inappropriate and completely unacceptable.
'Today's report from the New York State Attorney General substantiated and corroborated the allegations of the brave women who came forward to share their stories - and we commend the women for doing so.
'The New York State Attorney General has conducted an independent, thorough and professional investigation that found the Governor violated state and federal law, had a pattern of sexually harassing current and former employees, retaliated against at least one of the accusers and created a hostile work environment.
'No elected official is above the law. The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor's office. We continue to believe that the Governor should resign.'
The 168-page report by James' office finds that Cuomo fostered a 'toxic work environment' where women were punished for reporting their allegations.
It says that instead of dealing with the complaints properly, the women were simply moved out of his orbit, into different departments.
The report cites 'relevant laws' as Employer Liability and Executive Chamber Policy. The Governor, who has always denied the allegations, is yet to respond to the report's findings.
Among the allegations which the report says are true is that he sexually harassed a state trooper by running his 'finger from her neck down her spine' while they were sharing an elevator and saying 'hey you'.
He is also said to have rubbed a state employee's stomach, ran his finger across the chest of another woman, and engaged in 'widespread pattern' of subjecting women to 'unwanted hugs'.
The report concludes: 'The Governor sexually harassed a number of State employees through unwelcome and unwanted touching, as well as by making numerous offensive and sexually suggestive comments.
'We find that such conduct was part of a pattern of behavior that extended to his interactions with others outside of State government.'
Non-consensual touching, repeatedly made comments of a sexualized, gender based nature. Cuomo was grilled for 11 hours as part of the investigation.
During questioning, the report says he 'did not dispute that he sometimes commented on staff members' appearance and attire (although generally only to compliment), and stated that, being 'old fashioned,'.
He said he uses terms like 'honey', 'sweetheart' and 'darling' and that he regularly gave women hugs and kisses - sometimes on the lips.
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