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Cuomo urges people to wait for ‘the facts’ before forming an opinion
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing increasing pressure to resign following allegations of sexual harassment as a growing list of his Democratic colleagues turn on him including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Mr Cuomo has denied any allegations of wrongdoing and rejected calls to resign, saying demands for him to step down without “a single fact” are “reckless and dangerous.”
On Saturday, Mr Cuomo jumped onto Twitter to give an update on New York’s coronavirus crisis, as usual, providing figures for the total of hospitalisations and deaths in the state despite the ongoing controversy surrounding his leadership.
Mr Cuomo is facing allegations that he sexually harassed or behaved inappropriately toward seven women, including several former staffers in his administration, someone he met purely socially, and a journalist.
A senior advisor to the governor has denied reports claiming that staffers are abandoning Mr Cuomo amid the allegations, saying the claims are “greatly exaggerated.”
Leaders in the state assembly have announced an impeachment investigation against the governor as a first step toward potentially removing him from office, while state attorney general Letitia James announced an investigation into the harassment allegations.
Mr Cuomo has reiterated his denial of the allegations, asking New Yorkers to “wait for the facts” before coming to a judgement on the issue, saying: “There is still a question of the truth. I did not do what has been alleged. Period.”
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of Andrew Cuomo as the New York governor faces calls for resignation and an impeachment push amid multiple scandals.
Louise Hall13 March 2021 15:27
Chuck Schumer joins top Democrats calling for NY governor to resign
The nation’s top congressional Democrat joined a growing caucus of New York lawmakers demanding for Andrew Cuomo to resign saying in a statement that the governor “has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a New York congressional delegation demanding his resignation.
By the end of Friday, the governor – now largely alone in his battle – insisted his colleagues are engaging in “reckless” behaviour with premature demands. He has denied any allegations of wrongdoing.
Their statement followed a wave of calls on Friday from more than a dozen House Democrats from New York, including US Reps Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Louise Hall13 March 2021 15:41
Cuomo staffers abandon work as tensions mount, report says
Disillusioned staffers are abandoning their posts as Andrew Cuomo remains embroiled in scandals surrounding allegations of sexual harassment and assault, according to a report by The New York Post.
“I hear that most people aren’t even coming into work, and the offices at the Capitol are empty,” one well-placed insider in touch with staffers in recent days reportedly told the outlet.
“He’ll fight and fight and fight, but the staffers I’ve talked to are ready for him to hang up the gloves. Everyone feels like there is an inevitable conclusion — I mean at some point will Biden call on him to step down? They [staffers] just want this torture to stop.”
The Independent has reached out to the governor for comment.
Louise Hall13 March 2021 15:58
Cuomo gives update on state’s Covid situation as usual despite calls for resignation
Andrew Cuomo has jumped onto Twitter to give an update on New York’s coronavirus crisis, providing figures for the total of hospitalisations and deaths in the state despite the ongoing controversy surrounding his leadership.
The update comes as usual despite ongoing calls for the governor’s resignation amid a number of scandals. Mr Cuomo on Friday insisted that he would not step down and condemned colleagues demanding his resignation as “reckless and dangerous.”
“Today’s update on the numbers: Total Covid hospitalisations are at 4,617. Of the 225,793 tests reported yesterday, 6,600 were positive (2.92 per cent of total). Sadly, there were 77 fatalities,” he posted on Saturday morning.
Louise Hall13 March 2021 16:09
Blanket-wrapped Cuomo sparks social media flurry amid calls to resign
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has sparked a flurry of derisive reactions on social media after being photographed wrapped in a blanket amid a politically disastrous week.
Mr Cuomo was photographed on the grounds of the governor’s mansion with a blanket wrapped over his shoulders while speaking intently on the phone on Friday.
The photo quickly sparked a torrent of jokes on Twitter, with a number of users sharing memes and jokes directed at the image with one calling it “bleak” while another parodied the item as“spring’s hottest fashion” accessory.
Louise Hall13 March 2021 16:52
Andrew Cuomo: From leader to liability
Just a few months ago, Andrew Cuomo’s assured handling of the Covid crisis saw him touted as a serious candidate for the highest office.
Now, though, accusations of sexual harassment and the concealment of nursing home deaths leave the New York governor fighting for his political career. Sean O’Grady considers where it all went wrong:
From leader to liability: The fall of Andrew Cuomo
Just a few months ago, Andrew Cuomo’s assured handling of the Covid crisis saw him touted as a serious candidate for the highest office. Now, though, accusations of sexual harassment and the concealment of nursing home deaths leave the New York governor fighting for his political career. Sean O’Grady considers where it all went wrong
Louise Hall13 March 2021 17:03
Former White House press secretary calls for Cuomo to take lie detector test
Ari Fleischer, who served as press secretary for President George W Bush, has said that Andrew Cuomo should be “asked if he’s willing to take a lie detector test” at his next news conference.
In a post on Twitter, the former press secretary cited a previous statement from Mr Cuomo in which he asked Brett Kavanaugh to take a polygraph in 2018.
Louise Hall13 March 2021 17:11
Seventh woman accuses Cuomo of harassment alleging he ‘put his hands on her waist’
A seventh accuser has come forward against Andrew Cuomo, alleging that he “put his hands on her waist” and harassed her several times since the start of her journalism career.
Jessica Bakeman, a former member of the Capitol press corps in Albany who worked forPolitico, became the most recent accuser of the New York governor on 12 March.
In a first-person article for New York Magazine, Ms Bakeman wrote an account of a 2014 event in which the New York governor allegedly put his hands on her waist, arms around her back, and never let go of her hand as they posed for photos.
The governor reiterated his denial of all allegations against him following the new accusations, saying on a call with reporters: “I did not do what has been alleged. Period.”
He added: “My statement could not be clearer, I think. I never harassed anyone, I never assaulted anyone, I never abused anyone.”
Mr Cuomo had already been facing allegations that he sexually harassed or behaved inappropriately toward six women, including several former staffers in his administration and someone he met purely socially.
The Democratic governor has said previously he “never touched anyone inappropriately” and “never made any inappropriate advances” and that “no one ever told me at the time that I made them feel uncomfortable.”
Louise Hall13 March 2021 17:15
Who is Letitia James? New York’s first black AG investigating Cuomo allegations
The governor has asked people to wait for “the facts” before forming an opinion on the issue as the investigation, which will be headed by a former federal prosecutor and an employment lawyer, unfolds. He has denied any allegations of wrongdoing,
Who is Letitia James, the attorney general poised to lead the investigation?
Louise Hall13 March 2021 17:22
Governor’s aide denies reports of staff abandoning posts insisting claims are ‘greatly exaggerated’
A senior adviser to the governor has denied reports claiming that staffers are abandoning Andrew Cuomo amid allegations of sexual harassment, saying the claims are “greatly exaggerated.”
The New York Post reported on Saturday that disillusioned staffers have stopped turning up to work amid the controversy surrounding Mr Cuomo and increasing calls for his resignation.
However, in a statement to The Independent, Richard Azzopardi, a senior advisor to the governor, refuted this.
“There’s a budget to be done in two weeks, the largest vaccination effort is state history to stand up and the continued efforts to successfully fight this once in a century pandemic and that’s what the hard-working members of this administration and the state workforce are focused on — period,” he said.
The governor has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
Louise Hall13 March 2021 17:54
Blanket-wrapped Cuomo sparks social media flurry amid calls to resign
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has sparked a flurry of derisive reactions on social media after being photographed wrapped in a blanket amid a politically disastrous week, writes Louise Hall.
A number of high-profile Democrats have joined calls for Mr Cuomo to resign this week following a slew of sexual harassment allegations as state legislators move forward with plans to impeach.
Mr Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing and has refused calls to resign.
Danielle Zoellner13 March 2021 18:19
Cuomo has no safety net of ‘good will’, says adviser
An ocassional adviser to Governor Andrew Cuomo for nearly 40 years told Axios that the politician has “no net of good will” to catch him amid the accusations of sexual harassment and bullying.
Politicians can form relationships with others to assist them in moments of scandal, such as what currently surrounds Mr Cuomo. But the governor has the reputation of being a hardball, which sometimes involved him issuing over-the-top threats against those who have crossed him.
This has led him to having no “good will” safety net among New York Democrats and others, according to the adviser.
Now Mr Cuomo finds himself embroiled in scandal as more and more Democrats turn against him, including Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Danielle Zoellner13 March 2021 19:27
Biden and Harris remain silent amid other Democrats turning on Cuomo
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have remained silent about the accusations that currently surround one of the most prominent governors in the United States, even as more Democrats turn against Andrew Cuomo.
More than 30 women have spoken out against Mr Cuomo in recent weeks, accusing him of sexual harassment, assault, bullying, and racism. Mr Cuomo has denied all allegations.
Mr Biden has been a longtime friend of the governor and his father, Mario Cuomo, who also served as New York’s governor.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki spoke about this friendship on Friday morning when asked about the controversy, defending Mr Biden’s lack of response to the growing calls for the governor to resign.
But Mr Biden has said he supports the seven women who accuse Mr Cuomo of sexual harassment, and added that he would support an investigation from New York’s attorney general.
“The president has known him a long time but that doesn’t matter in this scenario,”Ms Psaki said on Good Morning America.
“I would say the president, VP, we all believe that every one of these women coming forward should be treated with respect, should have her voice heard,” she added.
“It’s hard for me as a woman to read a lot of these stories and sometimes we wake up and there’s a new one, but we believe there in an independent investigation that’s ongoing, led by the attorney general with subpoena power and we certainly support that moving forward.”
On Friday, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand joined the calls from New York Democrats for Mr Cuomo to resign. Whether Mr Biden and Ms Harris would join those calls remains unknown.
Danielle Zoellner13 March 2021 19:50
Cuomo boasts about New York National Guard in latest tweet
Governor Andrew Cuomo has continued business as usual from his Twitter account amid the accusations he currently faces.
In his latest tweet, Mr Cuomo revealed that all New York National Guard members who were deployed to the US Capitol amid the January riots have since returned.
Danielle Zoellner13 March 2021 20:27
Here is the list of Democrats currently calling for Cuomo’s resignation
More and more people have spoken out against Andrew Cuomo amid 30 women accusing the governor of sexual harassment, assault, bullying and racism, including members of the Democratic Party.
Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand were the lastest to speak out against the governor. Given their power within the US Senate, their condemnation was a serious hit for Mr Cuomo as he continues to refuse to resign.
“We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct,” Mr Schumer and Ms Gillibrand said in a joint statement. “Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign.” Additionally, 16 members of the US House who represent New York have also spoken out against Mr Cuomo, including Representatives Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Several state members of the Democractic Party in New York have also turned against the governor, with the New York State Assembly opening up an impeachment inquiry into his behaviour.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, would be leading an independent investigation into the sexual harassment claims against Mr Cuomo.
Danielle Zoellner13 March 2021 20:51
Cuomo aide denies staff are abandoning their posts as pressure mounts for governor to resign
A senior adviser to the governor has said that reports claiming that staffers are abandoning work amid scandals concerning Andrew Cuomo are “greatly exaggerated.”
The New York Post reported on Saturday that disillusioned staffers are abandoning their posts amid allegations of sexual harassment targeted at Mr Cuomo, but in a statement to The Independent, Richard Azzopardi, a senior advisor to the governor, refuted this.
“There’s a budget to be done in two weeks, the largest vaccination effort in state history to stand up and the continued efforts to successfully fight this once in a century pandemic and that’s what the hard-working members of this administration and the state workforce are focused on – period,” he said.
Danielle Zoellner13 March 2021 21:13
How could a Cuomo impeachment play out?
New York lawmakers have opened up an impeachment trial into Governor Andrew Cuomo and the allegations of sexual harassment against him, a first step in potentially removing him from office.
Next up will be an indepednent investigation into Mr Cuomo and his administration, which would be led by Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat. Pending the results of that investigation, New York lawmakers could go through an impeachment process to potentially remove Mr Cuomo.
The governor has indicated that he will “fully corporate” with an investigation, but has denied all accusations against him.
If Mr Cuomo was impeached by the state Assembly, he could be removed immediately from office depending on the circumstances.
The governor could also choose to remove himself by resigning.
Danielle Zoellner13 March 2021 21:47
Danielle Zoellner13 March 2021 21:50
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