TheScoop.us receives compensation from affiliate partners for links on the site. Here's our complete list of Affiliate sites.

The Scoop

Dems Call For Cuomo To Step Down — Cuomo Says He Won’t As 7th Accuser Comes Forward

By • March 12, 2021 6:12 pm

A growing number of congressional Democrats are calling for the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo as allegations of sexual misconduct continue to pile on against him. 

As of Friday, the tally of sexual harassment claims against the Democratic governor has reached half-dozen — while he also continues to face the lingering nursing home scandal related to his coronavirus policies in New York.

Trending: Candace Owens Releases Damning Video Exposing Facebook “Fact-Checkers” Showing That They Are Funded By A Chinese Corporation (VIDEO)

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and veteran Rep. Jerry Nadler, joined calls for Cuomo to step down on Friday, as most House Democrats are also pushing for the once-popular Democrat to resign.

Ocasio-Cortez released a joint statement with fellow progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman, citing the most recent allegation against the embattled governor.

“This week, the second sexual assault allegation and the sixth harassment allegation was levelled against Governor Cuomo,” the statement said. “The fact that this latest report was so recent is alarming, and it raises concerns about the present safety and well-being of the administration’s staff. These allegations have all been consistent and highly detailed, and there are also credible media reports substantiating their accounts” as both also noted that Cuomo is also being investigated for intentionally underreporting the number of COVID-19 nursing home deaths. 

“As members of the New York delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, we believe these women, we believe the reporting, we believe the Attorney General, and we believe the fifty-five members of the New York State legislature, including the State Senate Majority Leader, who have concluded that Governor Cuomo can no longer effectively lead in the face of so many challenges,” the pair said. 

More Democrats want Cuomo to resign

Rep. Nadler, who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, also issued a statement calling for Cuomo’s resignation — while noting that the six sexual harassment claims against the Democratic governor are being investigated by state Attorney General Letitia James.

“There is a difference between formal investigations that may end in charges and a question of confidence in our political leadership. The question before us is squarely a political judgement,” Nadler said in his statement while maintaining that he is “guaranteed due process.”

“Gov. Cuomo has lost the confidence of the people of New York. Gov. Cuomo must resign.”

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, the chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, also expressed her support calls for Cuomo’s resignation.

“I support those who spoke out about their stories and admire their courage,” and said she was joining other Democrats who have called on Cuomo to step down “in the best interest of all New Yorkers.”

Rep. Kathleen Rice of New York’s 4th district, was the first to call for his resignation as early as March 2 while other top Democrats held on until the sixth accuser of Cuomo came forward. 

Other New York Democrats who issued the same calls were Rep. Grace Meng, Nydia Velazquez, Yvette Clarke and Mondaire Jones. 

Cuomo’s 6th accuser

The most recent accuser, who has not been publicly identified, claimed that Cuomo summoned her to his quarters at the Executive Mansion for a work-related matter late last year  — only to experience being groped under her blouse, according to a report by Albany Times Union.

She is the six women to come forward with a sexual harassment allegation against the Democratic governor to accuse Cuomo of making inappropriate comments or physical contact. Others are Lindsey Boylan, Charlotte Bennett, Anna Ruch, Ana Liss and Karen Hinton — all were former Cuomo staffers, except Ruch, whom he met at a wedding reception.

Meanwhile, as calls for his resignation intensifies, a combative Cuomo reiterated on Friday that he will not step down and blamed “cancel culture.”

He also called the pressure from Democratic lawmakers as “reckless and dangerous” because they do not know the facts.

“I did not do what has been alleged, period,” Cuomo told reporters. “Politicians who don’t know a single fact but yet form a conclusion and then an opinion are in my opinion reckless and dangerous.”

“I never harassed anyone, I never assaulted anyone, I never abused anyone,” the three-term Democratic governor said, while suggesting that those who came forward against him may have other motivations to lie. “I have not had a sexual relationship that was inappropriate.”

“I’m not going to resign,” Cuomo maintained, noting that he was “not elected by the politicians” but was “elected by the people.”

Seventh accuser comes forward

Update: Another woman comes forward accusing Governor Cuomo of inappropriate behavior.

Former New York political reporter Jessica Bakeman became the seventh woman to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment — claiming that the Democratic governor “had been on my body — on my arms, my shoulders, the small of my back, my waist.”

“He took my hand, as if to shake it, then refused to let go. He put his other arm around my back, his hand on my waist, and held me firmly in place … I was wrong to believe this experience would last for just a moment … then he turned to me with a mischievous smile and said: ‘I’m sorry. Am I making you uncomfortable? I thought we were going steady.’”

Steeve Strange

Steeve is the CEO & Co-Founder of The Scoop.
Email
Read Steeve Strange's latest articles.