NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Aides to then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo reportedly attempted to remove then-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul ahead of the 2022 gubernatorial race by finding her a role within the Biden administration.
The Washington Post reported ahead of Cuomo's resignation and Hochul's rise to the governor's mansion, then top-Cuomo advisor Melissa DeRosa asked the Biden administration if Hochul could be appointed to an ambassadorship or another prominent administration position.
Hochul reportedly only sought to consider leaving her then-second-in-command role for an ambassadorship role.
Sources told NY1 reporter Zack Fink she wanted to be Ambassador to Ireland or Canada, though was offered Under Secretary of Commerce. She then decided to stay on as a lieutenant governor.
The administration reportedly told Hochul earlier this year Cuomo wanted her to leave to pick a lieutenant governor that could rally minority supporters, even looking at several Black female candidates as a replacement.
Multiple sources told the Post about the conversations that eventually faded as allegations against Cuomo increased.
Hochul acknowledged that Cuomo tried to oust her from the looming 2022 ticket this week, saying it was not a secret that she and the disgraced Democrat "were not close."
Cuomo resigned in August after state Attorney General Letitia James's independent report uncovered multiple sexual misconduct allegations against him.
Hochul is since moving forward with her decision to oust any staffers implicated in that independent report — with top Cuomo ally and MTA board member's Larry Schwartz's resignation on Thursday.
Spokespersons for Hochul, the White House and Cuomo declined to comment on the Post's reporting.