Lawmakers demand Cuomo resign after New York attorney general’s investigation

Several lawmakers released immediate calls Tuesday for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign after state Attorney General Letitia James released an investigative report indicating that the governor harassed at least 11 women while in office.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer drafted a joint statement with New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Tuesday, renewing their calls for Cuomo’s resignation.

“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,” Schumer and Gillibrand said in a joint statement.

Mayor Bill DeBlasio also renewed his sharp criticism of Cuomo in a statement following the attorney general’s report, calling the conduct it outlined “very troubling” and “unacceptable.”

“I’ve been very clear about the fact that what we’ve seen is disqualifying. I’ll look at this report and have more to say, but [it’s] very, very troubling and painful to hear that accounting of a powerful person treating people that way,” the New York mayor added.

New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik was one of the first to release a statement, requesting President Joe Biden to make the call for Cuomo to step down as governor.

“No one is above the law and today justice must be served. Governor Cuomo must resign and be arrested immediately,” Stefanik wrote.

Stefanik was one of the first members of a public office in December to call for an independent investigation into at least 11 allegations of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault relating to the governor’s reported conduct.

ANDREW CUOMO SEXUALLY HARASSED MULTIPLE WOMEN, CREATED HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT, NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL FINDS

Gillibrand, an advocate for combating sexual harassment, said earlier on Tuesday that she read the report from James’s office and found the contents “disturbing.” The report found that both Cuomo and the Executive Chamber engaged in “retaliatory” behavior by “intend[ing] to discredit and disparage” former employee Lindsey Boylan, who came forward with her allegations of harassment in December 2020.

“The fact that there are 11 women coming forward is deeply, deeply disturbing,” Gillibrand said, adding, “I do believe he should resign.”

Democratic state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins also released a statement about the governor’s alleged conduct, saying, “This report highlights unacceptable behavior by Governor Cuomo and his administration.”

“As I said, when these disturbing allegations first came to light, the Governor must resign for the good of the state,” Stewart-Cousins added.

The Senate majority leader said that the contents of the report should make it “clear to everyone that he can no longer serve as Governor.”

Several members of New York’s House of Representatives too issued statements calling on Cuomo to resign, including Democratic Reps. Gregory Meeks, Tom Suozzi, and Hakeem Jeffries.

“The time has come for Governor Andrew Cuomo to do the right thing for the people of New York State and resign,” the lawmakers wrote in a joint statement.

GOP candidate Andrew Giuliani joined the chorus of resignation calls as the son of former Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani seeks to win a bid for the governor’s office.

“Today, I renew my call for Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign his office. The Attorney General’s report has shown the world what New Yorkers have known for the last decade,” Andrew Giuliani wrote on Twitter.

He accused Cuomo of “stopping at nothing to hold on to power” and said the people of New York “deserve a leader who will stand up for them.”

Cuomo issued a live address following the release of the report, denying the sexual harassment allegations underlined in the document.

“I never touched anyone inappropriately,” Cuomo said in what appeared to be a prerecorded statement. “That’s just not who I am.”

James’s report also found that Cuomo’s conduct created a “toxic” environment for the Executive Chamber and said the evidence for the allegations was “substantiated” and “corroborated” by witnesses.

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“I welcome the opportunity for a full and fair review by a judge and jury,” Cuomo said.