Democrats Now Calling on Cuomo to Resign Following AG Report, Possible Distraction?

Democratic lawmakers from New York's congressional delegation are calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign, after New York Attorney General Letitia James released a report Tuesday substantiating allegations of sexual harassment from 11 women. James said Cuomo sexually harassed multiple current and former staffers, as well as women outside his administration.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York issued a joint statement calling on Cuomo to resign. The influential senators had already called for Cuomo's resignation in March, when allegations of sexual harassment against the New York governor came to light.

"As we have said before, the reported actions of the governor were profoundly disturbing, inappropriate and completely unacceptable. Today's report from the New York State Attorney General substantiated and corroborated the allegations of the brave women who came forward to share their stories — and we commend the women for doing so," the senators said. "No elected official is above the law. The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor's office. We continue to believe that the governor should resign."

Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi, Hakeem Jeffries and Gregory Meeks also called for Cuomo to step down. The congressmen said the "time has come" for Cuomo to "do the right thing" and resign.

"The office of Attorney General Tish James conducted a complete, thorough and professional investigation of the disturbing allegations against Governor Andrew Cuomo," the congressmen said in a joint statement. "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. We commend the brave women who came forward and spoke truth to power. The time has come for Governor Andrew Cuomo to do the right thing for the people of New York State and resign."

The report is "deeply disturbing, clear and thorough," House members, including Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, said after the release of the findings.

"For the good of New York State, Andrew Cuomo must resign," they said.

James' investigators detailed in graphic terms accusations of harassment by Cuomo, including making sexual comments and grabbing women.

Cuomo is accused of "a pattern of inappropriate conduct" with a staff member described as "Executive Assistant #1," which included kissing her on the lips at least once, grabbing her buttocks during hugs, asking multiple times about whether she had cheated or would cheat on her husband and once reaching under her blouse and grabbing her breast, according to the report.

"It is beyond clear that Andrew Cuomo is not fit to hold office and can no longer serve as Governor," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said 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.”

Cuomo, a Democrat in his third term, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing since allegations against him were first made public this year.

In March, President Joe Biden said Cuomo should resign if the investigation into his conduct confirmed allegations of sexual harassment against him.

The increased calls to remove Cuomo come after the release of a 165-page document which substantiates the claims of multiple women who allege that Cuomo sexually harassed them.