House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday that the allegations of sexual harassment against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo are “credible.”
The California representative joined a chorus of Democrats calling for a truly independent investigation into the allegations of misconduct brought against Cuomo by two of his former staffers.
“The women who have brought serious and credible charges against Governor Cuomo deserve to be heard and treated with dignity,” Pelosi said in a statement.
“The independent investigation must have a fair trial and respect for all involved.”
The statement came when Cuomo, 63, agreed to let Attorney General Letitia James appoint an outside investigator for the growing scandal.
His senior adviser Beth Garvey originally said Saturday night that the government had sued former federal judge Barbara Jones to lead an investigation.
However, the move soon met with two-part criticism, both for having attempted to dictate Cuomo to dictate his own research and for having previously partnered Jones with attorney and major Cuomo adviser Steve Cohen.
As the backlash rose on Sunday morning, James requested that Cuomo’s government appoint an independent investigator to her office, as required by state law.
Cuomo’s concession came after several New York lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx / Queens), emphasized the importance of an unbiased study.
“Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett’s detailed accounts of Gov. Cuomo’s sexual harassment are extremely serious and painful to read,” wrote AOC“There must be an independent investigation – led not by a person selected by the governor, but by the attorney general’s office.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) – who led the charges that resulted in the resignation of former Senator Al Franken over sexual misconduct allegations – was also among those calling for an independent investigation.
“These allegations are serious and very concerning,” Gillibrand said in a statement. “As requested by Attorney General James, the case should be referred to her office so that she can conduct a transparent, independent and thorough investigation with the authority to subpoena.”
Gillibrand In 2017, Gillibrand, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, quickly issued a full condemnation of her colleague Franken for facing mounting allegations from several women.
“Enough is enough,” she said at the time.
Additional reporting by Mark Moore