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The New York State assembly has authorized its judicial committee to open an “impeachment inquiry” into allegations of sexual misconduct by six women against Andrew Cuomo.
The panel’s investigation, which would parallel that led by state attorney general Letitia James, would be authorized to question witnesses, subpoena documents and assess evidence, said Carl Heastie, the chairman of the State Assembly.
“The reports of charges against the governor are serious,” Heastie said in a statement.
Cuomo, 63, has denied all of the allegations by the women, most of whom are former helpers. The most recent is an anonymous aide who told the Times-Union newspaper on Tuesday that Cuomo groped her after calling her to the executive mansion last year on the pretext of business.
Cuomo denied the tentative accusation, The Times-Union reported on Wednesday, saying “I’ve never done anything like this” and calling the details “heartbreaking.” Cuomo representatives did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Reuters could neither independently verify the woman’s identity nor her account.
The governor issued a broad apology at a press conference last week for any behavior that made women uncomfortable, but maintained that he had never touched anyone inappropriately.
Heastie, who said he decided to launch the investigation after meeting with fellow Democrats who control the assembly, said last weekend that Cuomo should “seriously consider whether we can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York. York ”.
The list of New York politicians, including Cuomo’s fellow Democrats, calling on the governor to step down grew, and on Thursday included New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said Cuomo “can no longer be governor. . ”.
Cuomo has said he will not resign and asked the public to wait for the results of that investigation before passing judgment.
Cuomo’s longtime political rival De Blasio said Thursday the latest accusation was concerning.
“The specific allegation that the governor called one of his employees, someone over whom he had power, called them to a private location and then sexually assaulted her, is absolutely unacceptable,” De said. Blasio to journalists. “It’s disgusting to me, and he can’t be a governor anymore.”
Calls for Cuomo’s resignation have been mounting since late February, when Cuomo’s first accuser, Lindsey Boylan, former aide and current Manhattan Borough presidential candidate, published an essay accusing him of making no advances. desired.
The governor has also been accused in recent weeks that his administration has sought to minimize the number of nursing home residents killed by Covid-19.
Last weekend, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins called on the governor to step down, saying his style of government created a “toxic work environment” and allegations of sexual misconduct had plagued his ability to lead.
On Thursday, more than 55 New York Democratic lawmakers followed suit in a letter calling for Cuomo’s resignation.
“As lawmakers and New Yorkers, we all need to decide what is best for the future of New York State,” read the letter, which was posted on Twitter by one of its signatories, Democratic MP Amanda Septimo of the South Bronx.
“Enough is enough,” Septimo wrote.
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