President Joe Biden told reporters Tuesday that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo 's downfall was 'sad' because he had done a &...
President Joe Biden told reporters Tuesday that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's downfall was 'sad' because he had done a 'hell of a job' as governor before an investigation found he sexually harassed 11 women.
'I respect the governor's decision and I respect the decision he made,' Biden said doing Q&A with reporters after giving infrastructure remarks Tuesday afternoon.
When asked by CBS' Ed O'Keefe - who mentioned how Biden and Cuomo had worked together on infrastructure projects - to grade the governor's performance outside the harassment allegations, the president gushed about the New York Democrat.
'I thought he's done a hell of a job. I thought he's done a hell of a job,' Biden said, highlighting specificially voting rights and infrastructure. 'That's why it's so sad.'
That response prompted CNN's Kaitlan Collins to pop up and ask how Biden could say that since the governor had been accused of sexually harassing women.
President Joe Biden called New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's resignation 'sad' during a back-and-forth with reporters at the White House Tuesday, after calling on the Democrat to resign a week ago
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo arrives to depart in his helicopter after announcing his resignation from Manhattan Tuesday. Biden had publicly called on Cuomo to resign a week before
'Look you asked two different questions. You asked the substantive: should he remain as governor is one question - and women should be believed when they make accusations that are able, on the face of them, make sense and investigated. They're investigated and the judgement was made that what they said was correct,' Biden began.
'That's one thing,' the president continued. 'The question is, did he do a good job on infrastructure, that was the question. He did.'
Collins pointed out the question was asked, generally, about Cuomo's job performance, while O'Keefe clarified he had asked Biden to rate the outgoing New York governor 'outside of his personal behavior.'
Collins then asked if Biden could separate the two.
'No I'm not,' the president replied. 'I was asked a specific question and I'm trying to answer specifically.'
Later on Twitter, White House press secretary Jen Psaki doubled down on Biden's statement.
'[Biden] responded to a specific question today about @NYGovCuomo work on infrastructure. He also made clear it was right for @NYGovCuomo to step down, reiterated his support for women who come forward, and made clear you can’t separate personal behavior from other work,' Psaki wrote.
Earlier during the Q&A Biden had kept his answers on Cuomo succinct and at one point offered that he didn't wish to answer any more queries about the Democratic governor.
Later on Twitter, White House press secretary Jen Psaki doubled down on Biden's statement
'I think the impact is all on Andrew Cuomo and his decision to make that judgement and I respect his decision,' Biden answered when asked how Cuomo's resignation would impact the Democratic Party.
Biden had called on Cuomo to resign last Tuesday, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced they wanted him gone.
'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 initially refused to resign and is contesting a damning report from AG Letitia James that found he did sexually harass 11 women.
He's provided a number of explanations for his behavior during two press conferences.
Cuomo had used a visual of Biden in his slideshow of touchy-feely behavior at last week's press conference, 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.'
'I'm sure there were some embraces that were totally innocent, but apparently the attorney general decided there were things that weren't,' Biden said.
At her press briefing earlier Tuesday, Psaki said the White House wasn't given a heads up about what Cuomo was going to say.
Cuomo's press conference was scheduled for around the same time the Senate was voting on Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure compromise with Republicans.
Psaki also said that Biden never called Cuomo to push him to resign, after saying he should do so publicly.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo leaves Manhattan Tuesday after announcing that he plans to resign
No comments