ALBANY, N.Y. — Calls for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation intensified Tuesday after a third woman came forward with sexual harassment accusations against the governor.
Former allies and political foes alike are speaking out against the governor, including the progressive Working Families Party, which called for an end to Cuomo’s “reign of fear, harassment, and intimidation.”
“We are calling on Governor Cuomo to resign immediately because he is unfit to serve the people of New York,” said WFP State Director Sochie Nnaemeka.
Progressives on the Democratic governor’s left flank are increasingly joining Republicans in calling on him to step down as a total of three women have so far come forward alleging workplace sexual harassment or unwanted advances.
“New Yorkers deserve a Governor who protects and lifts up the residents of this state,” Nnaemeka said. “Instead, Andrew Cuomo has only protected himself while harassing, threatening, and silencing others.”
The governor, who initially resisted calls for a fully independent investigation, eventually agreed to a probe led by Attorney General Letitia James’s office, which began to take shape on Monday.
However, some lawmakers believe he should face impeachment proceedings in light of the latest accusations and the administration’s handling of nursing home deaths during the COVID crisis.
“The accounts of sexual harassment from the women who have courageously come forward confirm what many in Albany have known for years: that Governor Cuomo uses his power to belittle, bully and harass his employees and colleagues,” a group of six legislators, all Democratic socialists, said in a statement. “It is time for the legislature to demand accountability.”
The group includes Sens. Julia Salazar and Jabari Brisport, Assembly members Emily Gallagher, Phara Souffrant Forrest, Marcela Mitaynes and Zohran Mamdani, who are all Brooklyn Democrats, except Mamdani, who represents Queens.
State lawmakers are already poised to roll back Cuomo’s expansive COVID executive authority, a move set in motion weeks ago as the nursing home scandal erupted and consumed the administration.
Republicans have slammed Democrats, who control both chambers in the State Capitol, for not acting faster to rescind the governor’s pandemic powers.
Separately, Assemblyman Victor Pichardo, a Bronx Democrat, joined a growing number of rank and file state legislators and party stalwarts who are openly revolting against the state’s most powerful man.
“Those of us who hold positions in public government are given a responsibility to serve as examples to the communities we represent,” he said in a statement. “At this point, I see no way the Governor can live up to the responsibility.”
Cuomo has denied he ever “inappropriately touched anybody” or “propositioned anyone” and apologized Sunday after acknowledging that “some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation.”
That statement came after two former aides went public with detailed accounts of improper behavior on part of the governor. Charlotte Bennett, 25, who accused Cuomo of asking inappropriate and personal questions about her sex life, including whether she ever slept with older men, rejected the governor’s attempted apology.
Bennett said that “abusers — particularly those with tremendous amounts of power — are often repeat offenders who engage in manipulative tactics to diminish allegations, blame victims, deny wrongdoing and escape consequences.”
Lindsey Boylan, a former economic development adviser, came forward days earlier to say that the governor created a toxic workplace and once subjected her to an unwanted kiss.
Calls for Cuomo’s ouster multiplied on Monday night when a third woman went public claiming that he had made her deeply uncomfortable during an encounter at a 2019 Manhattan wedding.
Anna Ruch, 33, told The New York Times the governor approached her, put his hand on her bare back and then clasped her head in his hands and said: “Can I kiss you?”
“I was so confused and shocked and embarrassed,” Ruch told the newspaper. “It’s the act of impunity that strikes me. I didn’t have a choice in his physical dominance over me at that moment. And that’s what infuriates me.”
Few have come to Cuomo’s defense in recent days, but many have voiced support for an outside investigation.
Jay Jacobs, a close ally of the governor and the head of the state Democratic party, was among those urging due process and called on elected officials and others to await the outcome of James’ inquiry.
“It is both premature and unfair for anyone to opine on the outcome until that investigation is completed and the results reported,” Jacobs said. “I urge all Democrats to unite in our determination to allow the attorney general’s investigation to do the work we have called for, and then to do what is right, whatever the outcome.
“In the meantime, our state has a budget to complete, a pandemic to fight and the people’s work must continue,” he added.
Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Hakeem Jeffries, both New York Democrats, said they support the accusers and the idea of a fully transparent investigation into the matter.
“I think it should be thoroughly investigated. And I believe women, so I think it should be thoroughly investigated. And I’ll await the outcome of the investigation,” Maloney said.
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