Biden says Cuomo should resign over findings of sexual harassment report
US President Joe Biden has said that he believes New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should resign after a damning report found out that he had sexually harassed 11 women. The investigation conducted by New York’s attorney general Letitia James revealed that Cuomo sexually harassed and made inappropriate remarks at multiple women, including current and former federal government employees.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, the US President said that he believes Cuomo should resign and the state legislature will be taking a decision on his impeachment.
I think he should resign. I understand that the state legislature may decide to impeach. I don’t know that for a fact
Biden told reporters
Biden remarks have come in line with the demand raised by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other New York democrats including Kirsten Gillibrand and Kirsten Gillibrand for Cuomo’s resignation.
“As always, I commend the women who came forward to speak their truth. Recognizing his love of New York and the respect for the office he holds, I call upon the Governor to resign,” Pelosi had said in a statement after the conclusion of the investigation.
Earlier in March, Biden, who is a longtime ally of the New York governor, had stated that Cuomo should resign if the investigation carried out by the New York Attorney General confirmed the allegations of sexual harassment against the Governor.
Shocking revelations
On Tuesday, James released the 165-page report with details of personal accounts of multiple women in which they revealed that Cuomo engaged in improper comments, nonconsensual touching, kissing, and groping. According to James’ report, Cuomo’s unwelcome behaviour created a “hostile work environment” for multiple women.
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“The independent investigation found that Governor Cuomo harassed multiple women, many of whom were young women, by engaging in unwanted groping, kisses, hugging, and by making inappropriate comments,” James said during a press conference in Manhattan, expressing her support to these women.
Cuomo denies allegations
Governor Cuomo Responds to Independent Reviewer Report: https://t.co/sgPuPEDXRU
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) August 3, 2021
Meanwhile, Cuomo has denied all allegations of sexual harassment against him. Issuing a statement, he reiterated that he never made sexual advances or touched anyone inappropriately. Denying the findings of the investigation, he maintained that the report was politically motivated and that the “facts are different from what has been portrayed.”
“I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances. I am 63 years old. I have lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just not who I am, and that’s not who I have ever been,” Cuomo said, after the release of the report. Significantly, the report on the five-month-long investigation has prompted resignation calls against Cuomo from a wide array of politicians from the states. Governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island issued a joint statement, expressing shock at the findings of the investigation and calling on Cuomo to step down from office.
