8 AUGUST 5, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Pols call for Cuomo’s resignation
following AG’s sexual harassment report
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.
The 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 office 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.”
“The facts are much diff erent than
has been portrayed,” Cuomo said. “I
never touched anyone inappropriately
or made inappropriate sexual
advances.”
The 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 office
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.
The 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.”
“The details provided by the victims
are gut-wrenching. Our hearts go out
Photo by Kevin P. Coughlin / Offi ce of Gov. Andrew Cuomo
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.
Aft er 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.
“The 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 swiftly
moves forward with impeachment
proceedings if Governor Cuomo
does not resign. New Yorkers deserve
better, and the governor
should resign.”
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