Kathy Hochul promises a big difference with the Cuomo administration

New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Wednesday she was ready to take over from Andrew Cuomo as governor in two weeks, and vowed not to have a “toxic” workplace, as Cuomo would have it. had for three terms.

Hochul also said she would get rid of any Cuomo staff involved in “unethical” conduct in retaliation against at least one of the multiple women who accused the disgraced Democratic governor of sexual harassment.

“The governor and I have not been close,” Hochul told reporters at his first press conference, a day after Cuomo surprised the state by announcing he would step down later this month to avoid an almost certain dismissal.

“And when my term ends, no one will ever describe my term as a toxic work environment.”

Hochul also said, “I am fully prepared to take on the responsibilities of the 57th Governor of New York. “

Hochul, whose term as governor will expire at the end of 2022, said she had previously held meetings and appeals with members of the New York Legislature, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, former Senator Hillary Clinton, as well as business and religious leaders, and other governors of the northeastern states.

“Over the next two weeks, I will continue to meet with current and potential cabinet officials,” she said.

“I’ll develop my senior executives. And I’ll do what I’ve always done. I’ll travel around the state meeting New Yorkers, listening to them, making sure I’m supporting them.”

Cuomo resigned a week after an explosive report released by the state attorney general’s office, Letitia James, found he sexually harassed 11 women, including current and former state employees, and had presided over a “toxic” environment in the governor’s office.

James said Cuomo broke federal and state laws with his unwanted touching and sexually suggestive comments.

The report also found that key Cuomo collaborators, including Melissa DeRosa, retaliated against former government official Lindsey Boylan after going public about her allegations of harassment by Cuomo.

“No one named in this report doing anything immoral will stay in my administration,” said Hochul, a Democrat from Buffalo who turns 63 later this month.

She declined to answer a question from a reporter about whether she would consider pardoning Cuomo if he is criminally charged in connection with his alleged harassment.

Five district attorney’s offices across the state are known to be investigating whether the governor has committed such crimes in their respective counties.

“It is far too premature to even have these conversations,” Hochul said, regarding a possible pardon for Cuomo, whose conduct she described last week as “disgusting” and “illegal.”

But Hochul responded when asked if she, as governor, would release data on Covid-related deaths of patients in state nursing homes.

The Cuomo administration controversially deleted that data, even as Cuomo himself landed a multi-million dollar book deal for his account of how he led New York City through the coronavirus pandemic.

“My administration will be completely transparent when I am governor,” Hochul said.

“I am not yet a governor.

She said she spoke to Cuomo about his appointment as governor.

“I look forward to a smooth transition, which he has promised,” Hochul said.

“He spoke to me about wanting to make sure that the transition to continuity is important and that I have the opportunity to meet with Cabinet officials, other people as well.”

She said she was unaware of Cuomo’s sexual harassment of women – or the intimidating nature of his executive office – but also said she had strongly championed the policies of his administration.

“Regarding the particular environment and the reputation of the current administration stream, I think it’s pretty clear and it’s no secret that we haven’t been close,” Hochul said. . “And I was not associated with it.”

But, she added, “I know the job, I fought for the same policies, which is why I’m better prepared than anyone could be for this job.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told a press briefing on Wednesday that President Joe Biden is planning to meet with Hochul in the coming days.

Biden looks forward to working with Hochul to “continue to bring the pandemic under control, put New Yorkers back to work and move forward as federal and state partners,” Psaki said.

Hochul revealed during her press conference that Biden attempted to call her while she was on a plane earlier Wednesday.

Hochul became Cuomo’s second lieutenant governor in 2014.

Previously, she served a year in Congress and before that she held a series of local positions in New York City.