Andrew Cuomo - Biden Says Governor Should Resign Over Harassment Report - BBC News

8/3/2021 Andrew Cuomo: Biden says governor should resign over harassment report - BBC News
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Andrew Cuomo: Biden says governor

should resign over harassment
report
3 hours ago
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58077255 1/11
REUTERS
President Joe Biden has called on Andrew Cuomo to resign after a damning
independent inquiry found the New York governor had harassed multiple
women.
Mr Biden's condemnation of Mr Cuomo came hours after the state's Attorney

General Letitia James said the governor had violated state and federal laws.
In response, Mr Cuomo denied touching anyone inappropriately and vowed to

stay in office.
Mr Cuomo could now be impeached, and is also facing a separate criminal

probe.
"I think he should resign," Mr Biden told reporters at the White House on
Tuesday. "I understand that the state legislature may decide to impeach. I
don't know that for a fact. I have not read all that data."
The attorney general's investigation was commissioned last year after several
women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against the
governor.
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Investigators spent five months speaking to nearly 200 people, including staff
members and some of those who made complaints against him. Tens of
thousands of documents, texts and pictures were reviewed as part of the
inquiry.
"The independent investigation has concluded that Governor Andrew Cuomo

sexually harassed multiple women and in doing so violated federal and state
law," Ms James said.
Mr Cuomo, she said, had engaged in "unwelcome and non-consensual

touching and making numerous offensive comments".
Cuomo 'ran finger down state

trooper's neck'
In one case, Mr Cuomo and his staff retaliated against a former employee who
accused him of wrongdoing, according to Ms James.
Other women described being groped, kissed or sitting on the governor's lap.
Mr Cuomo allegedly reached under the blouse of an assistant to touch her

breast, while another aide said he asked her if she was open to sex with an
older man.
What do the women allege?

Eleven women have accused Governor
Cuomo of misconduct.
Eight women say he made

offensive, condescending or sexual
comments
Seven women say he

inappropriately touched or groped them at
least once
Four women allege he

kissed them without consent
New York Attorney General report

Getty Images
The governor stood behind a state trooper in a lift, running his finger down her
neck and saying "hey you", according to investigators.
On top of the allegations of harassment, Mr Cuomo is accused of presiding

over a "hostile and toxic work environment".
Joon Kim, who co-led the investigation, said: "It was a culture where you could
not say no to the governor and if you upset him or his senior staff you'd be
written off, cast aside or worse."
In his statement, Mr Cuomo said: "I want you to know directly from me that I
never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances.
Watch: The allegations and Cuomo’s “I kiss people” defence
"I am 63 years old. I have lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just
not who I am. And that's not who I have ever been."
New York's senators, the Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand
used the release of the investigation to again call for him to resign.
"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 said.
The investigation is civil, rather than criminal, so will not directly lead to
charges.
But police could use the report in deciding to take further action and it is also
likely to play a key part in a separate impeachment investigation he faces - as
well as in a criminal inquiry in Albany, the state's capital city.
well as in a criminal inquiry in Albany, the state s capital city.
Few allies and fewer options for

Cuomo
After a whirlwind of attention earlier this year, the Andrew Cuomo sexual
harassment allegations had been held at a low simmer for months. The New
York attorney general's report now brings them roaring back.
Cuomo was able to survive the story's first wave through a mix of denials,
apologies and hunkering down in hopes that the political storm would pass.
He seems determined to follow the same strategy again.
Even with the new revelations and the report's conclusion that the governor
engaged in a "pattern" of misconduct, an organised effort to remove Cuomo
through legislative impeachment will be a tough task.
Where this report may draw political blood, however, is by further diminishing
Cuomo's prospects for re-election next year. His popularity has been dented,
his opponents have multiplied, and the Democratic establishment continues
to distance itself from the man who was once one of the party's top stars.
On Tuesday afternoon President Joe Biden - who had withheld his judgement
until now - added his voice to the chorus calling for Cuomo to resign. The
until now added his voice to the chorus calling for Cuomo to resign. The
governor seems determined to hang on and fight, but with few allies and fewer
options, his fate is all but sealed.
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Entertainment & Arts

Andrew Cuomo: Biden says governor

Mr Biden's condemnation of Mr Cuomo came hours after the state's Attorney

In response, Mr Cuomo denied touching anyone inappropriately and vowed to

Mr Cuomo could now be impeached, and is also facing a separate criminal

"The independent investigation has concluded that Governor Andrew Cuomo

Mr Cuomo, she said, had engaged in "unwelcome and non-consensual

Cuomo 'ran finger down state

Mr Cuomo allegedly reached under the blouse of an assistant to touch her

What do the women allege?

Eight women say he made

Seven women say he

Four women allege he

New York Attorney General report

On top of the allegations of harassment, Mr Cuomo is accused of presiding

Watch: The allegations and Cuomo’s “I kiss people” defence

Few allies and fewer options for

More on this story

The allegations and Cuomo’s 'I kiss people' defence

Belarus Olympic athlete to leave Tokyo for Poland

Elsewhere on the BBC

Hefty fine for pensioner over WW2 tank in house 1

Chinese gold medallists probed over Mao badges 5

Americans 'scared and angry' amid Covid surge

BBC News Services

Get news alerts Contact BBC News

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