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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has just lost the support of two of the country’s most powerful Democrats – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Senators join a growing chorus of lawmakers calling for Cuomo’s resignation amid allegations of sexual harassment.
“Confronting and overcoming the Covid crisis requires safe and consistent leadership. We applaud the courageous actions of individuals who have made serious allegations of abuse and misconduct,” Schumer and Gillibrand said in a joint statement.
“Due to the multiple and credible allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the trust of his partners in power and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign.”
Cuomo has become an international celebrity for his handling of the coronavirus crisis but after accusations of mismanagement and a series of allegations of sexual harassment, he finds himself isolated and quickly loses his support.
Earlier on Friday, the three-term governor remained defiant, denying the allegations against him and refusing to resign. “I didn’t do what was alleged. Period,” Cuomo said on a call with reporters. “I have never harassed anyone, I have never assaulted anyone, I have never abused anyone.”
“I am not going to resign. I was not elected by the politicians, I was elected by the people,” Cuomo added. “People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to nullify culture and truth.”
The denial comes as the majority of Democrats in the New York House call for Cuomo’s resignation, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Judicial President Jerry Nadler.
“The repeated accusations against the governor, and the manner in which he responded to them, made it impossible for him to continue to govern at this stage,” Nadler said in a statement. “Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of the people of New York. Governor Cuomo must resign.”
In a joint statement, Ocasio-Cortez and Congressman Jamaal Bowman cited the growing number of allegations against Cuomo, as well as the administration’s allegations. misleading reports of COVID-19 deaths of nursing home residents, as reasons the governor should step down.
“As members of the New York delegation to the United States House of Representatives, we believe these women, we believe the report, we believe the Attorney General, and we believe the fifty-five members of the legislature of New York State, including the Majority Leader State Senate, which concluded that Governor Cuomo can no longer lead effectively in the face of so many challenges, ”said Ocasio-Cortez and Bowman.
Representatives Nydia Velázquez, Adriano Espaillat, Grace Meng, Mondaire Jones, Carolyn Maloney, Yvette Clarke, Antonio Delgado, Sean Patrick Maloney, Brian Higgins, Ritchie Torres, Joe Morelle and Paul Tonko also called for his resignation.
Congresswoman Kathleen Rice was the first member of the New York delegation to ask Cuomo to step down on March 1.
New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie on Thursday authorized a impeachment inquiry in the misconduct allegations he faces, and more than 55 state lawmakers said in a letter Thursday that they wanted the governor to come out.
“The budget, the fight against COVID-19 and restarting the economy all depend on clear and trustworthy leadership,” the letter said. “In light of the governor’s admission of inappropriate behavior and the changed data results of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, he has lost the confidence of the public and the state legislature, making it ineffective in this time of most urgent need. “
Kathryn Watson contributed to this report.
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