New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faced mounting pressure to resign on Thursday as the state speaker authorized an impeachment investigation into the allegations of misconduct he is facing. New York State Assembly chairman Carl Heastie said he has authorized the Assembly’s Judiciary Committee to initiate the investigation, which he says will have the power to hear witnesses and subpoena documents.
The attorney general’s office in New York confirmed Thursday night that the meeting’s investigation would not affect their own independent investigation into the sexual misconduct claims against Cuomo.
The investigation comes as more than 55 lawmakers said in a letter Thursday that they want the governor out.
“The budget, the fight against COVID-19 and the reboot of the economy all depend on clear and reliable leadership,” the letter said. “In light of the Governor’s admission of inappropriate behavior and the findings of modified data on deaths in the COVID-19 nursing home, he has lost the trust of the public and state legislature, rendering him ineffective at this time of most pressing emergency. “
Mayor Bill de Blasio has also called on Cuomo to resign. “I find it disgusting and he can no longer serve as governor,” the mayor said on Thursday.
Cuomo said last week that he has would not resign, but his office promised to cooperate with the attorney general’s investigation.
The calls for resignation come as Cuomo faces a new allegation of sexual misconduct, reported by The Times Union of Albany. The reporting is based on an anonymous source that, according to the Times Union, has “direct knowledge” of another woman’s allegation.
The source told the Times Union that after watching Cuomo hold a press conference on another sexual misconduct allegation, a female assistant to Cuomo became upset and told a supervisor that the governor was groping her. The assistant reportedly claimed that Cuomo called her to the executive mansion to help him with a technical problem with his cell phone, before reaching under her blouse and stroking her.
The assistant, who has not been identified, has not filed a report, according to The New York Times.
Cuomo denied the charges and wrote in a statement that “I have never done anything like this”. Cuomo called the details ‘heartbreaking’.
“I am not going to go into the details of this or any other allegation given the ongoing review, but I am confident in the outcome of the attorney general’s report,” said the governor.
Albany police said on Thursday that they had been made aware of the allegations by New York State Police and the governor’s office, according to the Times. Police officials said the alleged conduct may have risen “to the level of a crime,” but that does not mean the department has opened a criminal investigation, the Times reported.
Cuomo’s acting counsel confirmed to CBS News that the charge had been referred to police.
As a matter of state policy when allegations of physical contact are made, the agency will inform the complainant to contact their local police department. If they refuse, the agency is required to contact themselves and notify the department. of the allegation. ”said the lawyer.
“In this case, the person is represented by a lawyer and when the lawyer confirmed that the client did not want to press charges, the state notified the police and provided the lawyer’s information,” she added.
The Times Union report is one of many sexual harassment claims filed against the governor in recent weeks. Last week, another former Cuomo assistant released her own sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo exclusive interview with Norah O’Donnell.
Charlotte Bennett alleged that Cuomo was asking her inappropriate questions about her sex life, including whether she would consider dating an older man. Cuomo said he “never made any progress” towards Bennett, but has apologized for some of the comments he made during his tenure.
“I never knew at the time that I was making anyone uncomfortable,” said Cuomo. “I never meant to insult or hurt anyone or hurt anyone. I hate that these people felt uncomfortable, hurt, hurt from the interactions, and I’m ashamed of it, and I feel bad about it. “