Andrew Cuomo given deadline in impeachment probe
5 August 2021, 16:34
Earlier this week an independent investigation found the New York governor had sexually harassed 11 women.
New York state lawmakers told governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday that their ongoing impeachment investigation is almost done and gave him a deadline of August 13 to provide additional evidence.
Since March, the State Assembly’s judiciary committee has been investigating whether there are grounds to impeach the Democratic governor over sexual harassment allegations, misleading the public about Covid-19 outbreaks at nursing homes and using state resources and staff for his five-million-dollar (£3.6 million) book deal.
In a letter sent on Thursday, the law firm leading the investigation, Davis Polk & Wardwell, reminded Mr Cuomo’s legal team that it has requested certain documents by subpoena and expected “full compliance from the governor,” but that his time to respond was almost up.
“We write to inform you that the Committee’s investigation is nearing completion and the Assembly will soon consider potential articles of impeachment against your client,” they wrote.
“Accordingly, we invite you to provide any additional evidence or written submissions that you would like the Committee to consider before its work concludes.”
The letter was released publicly by Assembly Judiciary Committee chair Charles Lavine, a Long Island Democrat.
The committee has scheduled its next meeting on the matter for Monday.
An independent investigation released earlier this week that was overseen by Attorney General Letitia James found that Mr Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women, and that his administration retaliated against at least one of them for going public with her allegations.
Mr Cuomo has denied making any inappropriate sexual advances and insists the findings do not reflect the facts.
He has resisted numerous calls for his resignation from most of New York’s top Democrats and from President Joe Biden.
District attorneys in Manhattan, suburban Westchester and Nassau counties and the state capital of Albany said they asked for investigative materials from the inquiry to see if any of the allegations could result in criminal charges.
One of Mr Cuomo’s accusers said he groped her breast. Others have said he gave them unwanted kisses or touched parts of their bodies in ways that made them uncomfortable.
