WASHINGTON – President Biden has said the New York government should resign Andrew Cuomo if an investigation confirms allegations of misconduct against him by several women.
Mr. Biden said in an interview with ABC News that he also thought Cuomo was likely to be “prosecuted” if the investigation confirmed the claims. The remarks were the strongest yet by Mr. Biden, who was a political ally of the governor of New York.
Three women who for Mr. Cuomo worked and one woman who is currently on his staff accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior. Attorney General Letitia James is overseeing an investigation into the allegations. Several leading New York Democrats, including Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, have appealed to Mr. Cuomo done to resign.
Mr. Cuomo said he never touched anyone improperly. He has previously apologized to anyone who said his behavior made them uncomfortable.
Mr. Biden said in the ABC interview, which airs in full on Wednesday, that the investigation should determine the truth of the allegations: “It’s going on now.” He said it was up to others to determine whether Mr. Cuomo can currently act as governor.
He added: ‘There could be a criminal prosecution attached to it. I just do not know. ”
Mr. Biden said that a woman should be suspected of speaking the truth and that she should not become a scapegoat and that she should be victimized by coming forward. “He said it took a lot of courage to come forward. The suspicion is that it should be taken seriously. And it needs to be investigated. And that’s what’s going on now. ”
Governors’ spokesmen did not immediately return calls for comment.
Mr. Cuomo said people should withhold verdict until James’ investigation is completed. Mr. Biden told reporters on Sunday: “I think the investigation is underway, and we need to see what it brings to us.”
As a presidential candidate, Mr. Biden the allegation of former Senate staff member Tara Reade that he assaulted her when she was working in his office in 1993. Mr. Biden and his associates said the claims were untrue.
Democrats, who dominate the New York State House of Representatives, have begun an indictment against Mr. Cuomo’s office conduct as well as the handling of his administration of Covid-19 in nursing homes.
Federal prosecutors have requested data on deaths in nursing homes and are interested in compiling a report from the Department of Health in July on how Covid-19 affects the facilities, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Mr. Cuomo said he was working with the federal investigation.
—Jimmy Vielkind contributed to this article.
Write to Ken Thomas by [email protected]
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On March 17, 2021, the print edition appears as ‘Biden Says Cuomo Should Go As Claims Confirmed.’