Calls Mount For Cuomo's Resignation After Sexual Harassment Probe

NEW YORK CITY — One word swirled around Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the aftermath of a bombshell sexual harassment probe: resign.

When asked if Cuomo should resign, President Joe Biden had a one-word response: "Yes."

Cuomo on Tuesday tried to add his own voice to the political chorus with a forceful denial of accusations and findings in a 165-page report released by Attorney General Letitia James.

But the governor was drowned out by the likes of Mayor Bill de Blasio, who accepted the probe's finding that Cuomo harassed 11 women and called it "disqualifying."

“It is beyond clear that Andrew Cuomo is not fit to hold office and can no longer serve as Governor," de Blasio saind in a statement. "He must resign, and if he continues to resist and attack the investigators who did their jobs, he should be impeached immediately."

De Blasio, a noted rival of Cuomo's, wasn't alone — New York City politicians at all levels of government called for Cuomo's ouster.

Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand issued a joint statement reiterating their March call for Cuomo to step down.

"The New York State Attorney General has conducted an independent, thorough and professional investigation that found the Governor violated state and federal law, had a pattern of sexually harassing current and former employees, retaliated against at least one of the accusers and created a hostile work environment," the senators said.

“No elected official is above the law," their statement read. "The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor’s office. We continue to believe that the Governor should resign."

Powerful Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who previously avoided weighing in on Cuomo's various scandals, likewise said Cuomo could no longer serve as governor.

"The investigation has found that the Governor engaged in abusive behavior toward women, including subordinates, created a hostile work environment and violated state and federal law," Jeffries said in a statement.

Other pols left the door open for a long-simmering impeachment probe to remove Cuomo if he didn't resign.

State Sen. Liz Krueger, for example, tweeted that Cuomo "must resign" and that her colleagues should impeach him "as swiftly as possible" if he does not step down.

State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who carries the power to convene impeachment proceedings, called the attorney general's report "disturbing."

"The conduct by the Governor outlined in this report would indicate someone who is not fit for office," he said in a statement.

But Heastie stopped short of saying an impeachment was imminent. All he had to say was this: "We will have more to say in the very near future."

Perhaps the most eye-opening response came from Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. She said she believed the women's accusations.

"Sexual harassment is unacceptable in any workplace, and certainly not in public service," she said in a statement.

"The AG’s investigation has documented repulsive & unlawful behavior by the Governor towards multiple women."

No one is above the law. Under the New York Constitution, the Assembly will now determine the next steps.

Because Lieutenant Governors stand next in the line of succession, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the process at this moment. 2/2
— Kathy Hochul (@LtGovHochulNY) August 3, 2021

Hochul said the state Assembly "will now determine the next steps."

Patch writer Nick Garber contributed to this report.