Biden Calls on NY Governor Cuomo to Resign
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Biden's demand came amidst the growing scrutiny of sexual assault allegations against the New York Governor.
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Cuomo's political future seems bleak
US President Joe Biden has called on New York governor Andrew Cuomo to resign over accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct.
Biden’s statement came in after he was asked if Cuomo should resign, to which he responded with a swift “yes.” With this response, the president has ruptured all connections with his once close friend and political ally.
The third-term Democrat governor has come recently under scrutiny after multiple allegations of misconduct surfaced, which have painted a vilified image of a once-beloved public figure.
The telegenic and popular governor was considered an important leader during the COVID-19 pandemic, with his anti-Trump and pro-vaccine discourse serving as a haven for many New Yorkers.
However, the allegations directed at Cuomo have quickly shattered this image, notably after a report by New York State Attorney General Letitia James was released on Tuesday. The 165-pages report mentioned two previously unreported allegations and described how Cuomo and his office threatened a woman who made her allegations public.
The report concluded that “Governor Cuomo harassed multiple women, many of whom were young women, by engaging in unwanted groping, kisses, hugging, and by making inappropriate comments.”
The report’s founding was contested by the governor and his attorney, as they released an expansive statement in an attempt to rebut the multiple harassment claims.
On the other hand, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said that Cuomo lost the confidence of the Democratic majority, calling him unfit to stay in office as the Assembly threatens to impeach him in case he does not willingly resign.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, addressed the governor by saying: “Recognizing his love of New York and the respect for the office he holds, I call upon the Governor to resign.” Pelosi's comments came after Leader of the Senate Chuck Schumer's invitation to Cuomo to resign.
With all support severed from members of his party, the political future of Cuomo seems bleak.
