(CNN) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday faced mounting pressure from Democrats, including New York’s two US senators, to resign in the wake of a report that found he sexually harassed multiple women.
The investigation conducted by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office found that Cuomo engaged in “unwelcome and nonconsensual touching,” and made comments of a “suggestive” sexual nature. The report detailed the allegations of 11 women claiming harassment. Cuomo’s conduct violated multiple federal and state laws, James said.
Cuomo has continued to insist he did nothing wrong and made no indication in remarks on Tuesday that he will step down. But the public outcry from Democrats amounts to the most serious challenge yet to his 11-year grip on New York state politics, and it was far from certain on Tuesday afternoon that he would be able to withstand the pressure to leave office.
The report’s findings prompted not only the Democrats who have been calling for Cuomo’s resignation for months to again demand he step down but also pushed several other party leaders who had previously called for the investigation to unfold to say on Tuesday it was time for the governor to leave Albany.
“As we have said before, the reported actions of the Governor were profoundly disturbing, inappropriate and completely unacceptable,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement. “Today’s report from the New York State Attorney General substantiated and corroborated the allegations of the brave women who came forward to share their stories — and we commend the women for doing so.”
They concluded: “No elected official is above the law. The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor’s office. We continue to believe that the Governor should resign.”
Schumer and Gillibrand were among the several New York congressional Democrats to call for Cuomo to resign in March, at the time joining more than 50 New York state Democratic lawmakers. On Tuesday, Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Thomas Suozzi and Gregory Meeks, who back in March did not call for Cuomo’s immediate resignation, publicly joined their colleagues.
“The time has come for Governor Andrew Cuomo to do the right thing for the people of New York State and resign,” the three said in a statement.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Nassau County Executive Laura Curran declined to call for Cuomo’s resignation back in March, but changed their positions on Tuesday, with Latimer calling the evidence “clear and compelling.”
New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who had launched an impeachment probe into Cuomo earlier this year, said Tuesday that the report was sent to members who will “undertake an in-depth examination of the report” with Assembly counsels and the legal firm it retained.
“The conduct by the Governor outlined in this report would indicate someone who is not fit for office,” Heastie said in a statement, calling the report’s findings “disturbing” and the victims’ accounts “gut-wrenching.”
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat who has often feuded with Cuomo, called the actions detailed in the report “unacceptable to anyone, let alone a public servant,” after the mayor was read a summary of the report by reporters.
“I’ve been very clear about the fact that what we have seen is disqualifying,” de Blasio said.
Cuomo has frequently accused the investigation as being politically motivated and again denied the allegations detailed in the report shortly after it was released on Tuesday.
“I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances,” Cuomo said in a speech, reiterating a position he has held for months.
The-CNN-Wire
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