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.”
