The New York State Assembly has authorized its legal committee to launch an “indictment” into allegations by six women against Andrew Cuomo of sexual misconduct.
Carl Heastie, the speaker of the state assembly, said the investigation of the panel, which would run in parallel with one led by state attorney general Letitia James, was undertaken to interview witnesses, sue documents and evaluate evidence.
“The reports of allegations concerning the governor are serious,” Heastie said in a statement.
Cuomo, 63, denied all allegations by the women, most of whom are former assistants. The most recent is an unnamed assistant who told the Times-Union newspaper on Tuesday that Cuomo had touched her after she called her to the executive mansion last year under the pretext of business.
Cuomo denied the allegations, the Times-Union reported on Wednesday, saying “I have never done anything like this” and called the details “gut-wrenching”. Representatives from Cuomo did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Reuters could not independently verify the woman’s identity or her account.
The governor at a news conference last week apologized profusely for behavior that made women feel uncomfortable, but he insisted he had never touched anyone improperly.
Heastie, who said he decided to launch the inquiry into a meeting with fellow Democrats in charge of the assembly, said last weekend that Cuomo should “seriously consider whether he can meet the needs of New Yorkers.” .
The list of New York politicians, including Cuomo’s fellow Democrats, who are calling for the governor to step down, is growing and on Thursday included New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said Cuomo could just no longer serves as governor. ”.
Cuomo said he would not resign and asked the public to await the outcome of the investigation before ruling.
De Blasio, Cuomo’s longtime political rival, said Thursday the latest accusation is disturbing.
“The specific allegation that the governor called an employee of his, someone over whom he had power, called them to a private place and then sexually assaulted her, is absolutely unacceptable,” De Blasio told reporters. “It’s disgusting to me, and he can no longer serve as governor.”
The request for Cuomo to resign has been growing since late February, when Cuomo’s first accuser, Lindsey Boylan, a former assistant and current presidential candidate in Manhattan, published an essay accusing him of making undesirable progress.
The governor has also faced accusations in recent weeks that his government wanted to reduce the number of nursing homes killed by Covid-19.
Last weekend, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins called on the governor to resign, saying his style of governing creates a ‘toxic work environment’ and allegations of sexual misconduct have undermined his ability to lead.
On Thursday, more than 55 Democratic lawmakers in New York followed suit in a letter calling for Cuomo’s resignation.
“As legislators and as New Yorkers, we must all decide what is best for the future of the state of New York,” reads the letter posted on Twitter by one of the signatories, Democratic Assemblywoman Amanda Septimo of the South Bronx. is.
“Enough is enough,” Septimo wrote.