Pressure grows for New York governor Andrew Cuomo to quit
12 March 2021, 16:34
The Democrat is facing sexual harassment allegations and scrutiny over the reporting of coronavirus deaths.
Multiple members of New York’s congressional delegation called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign in the wake of mounting allegations of sexual harassment and an allegation of groping, as well as scrutiny over his administration’s reporting of Covid-19 deaths among nursing home residents.
The Democratic governor has denied he ever touched anyone inappropriately, and has said he is sorry if he ever made anyone uncomfortable.
But a majority of state politicians are calling on him to resign, and Democratic congressional members including US Representatives Jerry Nadler, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Grace Meng and Antonio Delgado joined those calls on Friday.
Mr Nadler said Mr Cuomo has lost the confidence of New Yorkers.
“The repeated accusations against the governor, and the manner in which he has responded to them, have made it impossible for him to continue to govern at this point,” Mr Nadler said.
After two accounts of sexual assault, four accounts of harassment, the Attorney General’s investigation finding the Governor’s admin hid nursing home data from the legislature & public, we agree with the 55+ members of the New York State legislature that the Governor must resign. pic.twitter.com/jV5dwtuVPr
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 12, 2021
The delegation also pointed to sweeping criticism of Mr Cuomo for keeping secret how many nursing home residents died of Covid-19 for months.
The governor has claimed his administration had to verify deaths of residents at hospitals, but critics question why that has not held up the release of data in other states.
“After two accounts of sexual assault, four accounts of harassment, the attorney general’s investigation finding the Governor’s admin hid nursing home data from the legislature and public, we agree with the 55+ members of the New York State legislature that the Governor must resign,” Ms Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.
Ms Cuomo’s office did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The governor in recent days has been calling politicians and supporters asking them to refrain from calling for his resignation, and instead support the ongoing investigations.
The state Assembly allowed an impeachment investigation into Mr Cuomo on Thursday as politicians investigate whether there are grounds for impeachment.
Spokespeople for New York’s Democratic US Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
