Cuomo Must Resign, 11 NY Congressional Reps Say

NEW YORK, NY — Nearly a dozen of New York's representatives in Congress called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign on Friday, escalating pressure that has mounted on the governor amid seven sexual harassment allegations against him.

Within minutes of each other Friday morning, Democratic U.S. Representatives Jerry Nadler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Carolyn Maloney, Yvette Clarke, Jamaal Bowman, Mondaire Jones, Grace Meng, Nydia Velazquez, Adriano Espaillat, Antonio Delgado and Brian Higgins all demanded the governor's resignation in separate statements.

"The repeated accusations against the Governor, and the manner in which he has responded to them, have made it impossible for him to continue to govern at this point," said Nadler, a 15-term lawmaker from Manhattan who also chairs the House Judiciary Committee.

It is time for Governor Cuomo to resign.
— Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) March 12, 2021

After two accounts of sexual assault, four accounts of harassment, the Attorney General’s investigation finding the Governor’s admin hid nursing home data from the legislature & public, we agree with the 55+ members of the New York State legislature that the Governor must resign. pic.twitter.com/jV5dwtuVPr
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 12, 2021

The group joins Rep. Kathleen Rice, a Long Island congresswoman who was the first New York Democrat to call for Cuomo's resignation, as well as four Republicans. Others echoing the call include Mayor Bill de Blasio, a longtime Cuomo rival.

"He has to resign. He has lost the faith of the leaders of this state, he has lost the faith of the people," de Blasio said Friday in an interview on WNYC.

Amid the calls for his resignation, the State Assembly moved on Thursday to open an impeachment inquiry against Cuomo.

The most recent allegation emerged on Wednesday, when the Albany Times Union reported that an aide to Cuomo had accused him of groping her aggressively in the governor's residence last year. Cuomo denied the allegation, which is at least the seventh made against him in recent weeks.

The outpouring of accusations began in late February, when former aide Lindsey Boylan detailed her own claims of being subjected to an unwanted kiss and frequent harassment from the governor.

Cuomo vowed Friday afternoon that he would not resign.

Over the past several months, it has become clear that Governor Cuomo is unfit to continue leading our state.

For the good of New York and everyone who calls it home, I urge Governor Cuomo to resign.

My full statement below pic.twitter.com/vCZSQCn9YF
— Mondaire Jones (@MondaireJones) March 12, 2021

Read my statement calling for the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo. pic.twitter.com/JyZntu9HJS
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) March 12, 2021

See my statement below on Governor Cuomo. pic.twitter.com/eNkDlIFlMP
— Grace Meng (@RepGraceMeng) March 12, 2021

These troubling allegations have reached a level that I believe impedes Governor Cuomo’s ability to serve the people of New York State to the best of his abilities.

Here’s my full statement calling for Governor Cuomo to step down: pic.twitter.com/Ck5j9XV3AP
— Yvette D. Clarke (@RepYvetteClarke) March 12, 2021