FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM AUGUST 5, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 19
Queens lawmakers call for Cuomo’s resignation in
wake of AG’s report on sexual harassment claims
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Queens lawmakers and leaders
are calling on Gov. Andrew
Cuomo to resign or face
impeachment aft er New York
Attorney General Letitia James
announced on Tuesday, Aug. 3,
an independent investigation
that found the governor sexually
harassed multiple women,
violating federal and New York
state law.
Th e attorney general’s 168-
page bombshell report, released
during her press conference on
Aug. 3, determined that Cuomo,
63, sexually harassed 11 women,
nine of whom are current and
former state employees — and
one of whom is a New York state
trooper.
According to the report, the
governor engaged in “unwanted
groping, kissing, hugging,
and making inappropriate comments,”
creating a hostile work
environment for women.
In a statement, James said she
is grateful to all of the women
who came forward to tell their
stories in “painstaking detail,
enabling investigators to get to
the truth.”
“No man — no matter how
powerful — can be allowed to
harass women or violate our
human rights laws, period,”
James said.
Following the report, several
Queens lawmakers took to
Twitter calling for the governor,
who is a Democrat and is serving
his third term in offi ce, to be
removed.
Councilman Jimmy Van
Bramer said Cuomo should
resign, “but if he doesn’t, he must
be impeached.”
State Assemblyman Ron Kim,
who was embroiled in a public
feud with the governor earlier
this year over his administration’s
handling of nursing home
deaths amid the COVID-19 pandemic,
said Cuomo is “wholly
unfi t to serve and must be
removed from offi ce immediately.”
“Today’s report from Attorney
General Letitia James
confi rms what we have
long suspected: Governor
Cuomo used his offi ce to
sexually assault, harass,
intimidate and humiliate
his employees,” Kim said
in a statement.
Kim then acknowledged
the women who
came forward to speak
out against the governor’s
alleged inappropriate
misconduct.
“Today is about the
brave women. We have
much more work ahead
but today brave women
are heard loud and clear,”
Kim said.
In response to the AG’s
report, Arlenis Morel,
co-executive director
of Make the Road New
York, said they stand with survivors
and women.
“Governor Cuomo abused
his power and violated federal
and state laws. He harassed and
accosted women. He created a
hostile workplace and retaliated
against staff . With this investigation
now concluded, Governor
Cuomo must resign immediately.
If he does not, the Assembly
must swift ly move to impeach
him,” Morel said.
In March, James’ offi ce began
an offi cial investigation into the
reports of alleged misconduct by
Cuomo, who had received calls
from Democratic lawmakers to
resign. He had rebuff ed.
In a video statement released
on Aug. 3, Cuomo again denied
any wrongdoing, and said he was
issuing his own report to “now
share the truth.”
“Th e facts are much diff erent
than has been portrayed,”
Cuomo said. “I never touched
anyone inappropriately or made
inappropriate sexual advances.”
Th e governor suggested the
report was tainted by “bias” and
portrayed himself as a protector
of women.
“For those who are using
this moment to score political
points, or seek publicity or personal
gain, I say they actually
discredit the legitimate sexual
harassment victims that the law
was designed to protect,” Cuomo
said.
Cuomo, who was praised for
his leadership in navigating the
COVID-19 crisis, fell from grace
in recent months when the attorney
general’s offi ce released a
report revealing that his administration
withheld data about
nursing home deaths in New
York.
Cuomo has faced scrutiny over
reports that he prioritized testing
for his family in the early days of
the pandemic.
Th e governor was also criticized
for receiving $5.1 million
for his book about dealing
with the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to James, the
investigation is still ongoing on
whether state funds went toward
Cuomo’s book deal.
Additionally, James’ report
into Cuomo’s sexual harassment
allegations is separate from
an independent impeachment
report launched by the New York
Assembly earlier this year.
In a statement, Assembly
Speaker Carl Heastie said
James’ report has been forwarded
to members of the Judiciary
Committee, as well as members
of the Assembly.
“We will now undertake an
in-depth examination of the
report and its corresponding
exhibits with
our Assembly counsels
as well as the legal fi rm
we have retained to assist
us,” Heastie said. “We will
have more to say in the
very near future.”
Heastie added that the
conduct outlined by the
governor in the report
indicates “someone who
is not fi t for offi ce.”
“Th e details provided
by the victims are gutwrenching.
Our hearts
go out to all of the individuals
who have had
to endure this horrible
experience,” Heastie said.
Assemblywoman Nily
Rozic said the governor’s
actions are clearly
grounds for impeachment.
“No one should be subjected
to sexual harassment or a
toxic work environment, especially
not at the highest levels
of our state’s government. In his
actions, the governor has undermined
New York’s strong sexual
harassment laws. We must
ensure everyone can do the people’s
work free of harassment and
hostility,” Rozic said.
After reading the report,
Assemblyman Brian Barnwell
said he will “support impeachment
proceedings.”
Assembly members Jessica
González-Rojas and Khaleel
Anderson also released statements
in support of Cuomo’s resignation
or impeachment.
Assemblyman Zohran
Mamdani, along with several
other DSA members in the
Legislature, called on the body
to “immediately reconvene and
impeach.”
Senate Deputy Leader Michael
Gianaris said Cuomo “lacks the
integrity required to be the leader
of our state and can no longer
serve as New York’s governor.”
“He must heed the calls of
so many New York leaders and
resign,” Gianaris said.
Senator Toby Ann Stavisky
also called for Cuomo’s resignation
or impeachment.
“It is clear that there is a pattern
of unacceptable and troubling
behavior,” Stavisky said. “I
want to thank the brave women
who had the strength to come
forward and tell their stories.”
State Senator Jessica Ramos,
one of the legislators who previously
called for Cuomo’s resignation,
said New Yorkers “deserve
better.”
“No one should be subjected
to this kind of harassment. And
certainly not by someone who
is charged with leading our state
and upholding the labor laws
meant to rid our workplaces of this
abhorrent, misogynistic behavior,”
Ramos wrote on Twitter.
Congress members Tom
Suozzi and Hakeem Jeff ries said
the attorney general’s offi ce conducted
a “complete, thorough
and professional investigation”
of the disturbing allegations
against Cuomo.
“Th e time has come for
Governor Andrew Cuomo to do
the right thing for the people of
New York state and resign,” the
lawmakers said in a joint statement.
Meanwhile, Democratic nominee
for New York City mayor
Eric Adams said James’ investigation
yielded disturbing conclusions
about the conduct of
Cuomo.
“It is now the duty of the New
York State Assembly to take swift
and appropriate action and move
forward with impeachment proceedings
if the governor will not
resign,” Adams said.
Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards said he
“applauds” James for overseeing
the investigation “with the
utmost integrity and respect.”
“Today I am especially thinking
of all the survivors who are
in pain due to the governor’s
behavior. I hope they feel justice
was partially served today, and it
is now up to the state Legislature
to complete,” Richards said. “I
hope the Assembly swift ly moves
forward with impeachment proceedings
if Governor Cuomo
does not resign. New Yorkers
deserve better, and the governor
should resign.”
Kevin P. Coughlin / Offi ce of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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