NY State Sen. Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins Calls for Gov. Cuomo to Resign Amidst Snowballing Allegations

By Yehudit Garmaise

     Although just an hour ago, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that he "would not be distracted" by the current allegations launched against him, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the New York Senate’s majority leader, has just called for the governor to resign.

    “Every day there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government,” said state Sen. Stewart-Cousins, who is deeply respected by Democrats among the moderate and progressive wings of the party in New York. The call for the governor to resign by Stewart-Cousins, who also serves as the chamber’s president pro tempore, is expected to greatly affect the opinions of other elected officials in the state.

     “We have allegations about harassment, a toxic work environment, the loss of credibility surrounding COVID-19 nursing home data and questions about the construction of a major infrastructure project," Stewart-Cousins continues to say. “New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the society, health, and economic impacts of it. We need to govern without daily distraction. 

   “For the good of the state, Gov. Cuomo must resign.”

     Just before Stewart-Cousins spoke up, Gov. Cuomo had remained defiant during a brief conference call with reporters, while insisting that the allegations being raised against him were not true.

   When asked whether he was going to resign, the governor said, “I am going to do my job. We have to await the facts from the attorney general,” who is overseeing an investigation into the now five allegations of harassment against the governor. 

   Trying to steer the conversation back to COVID, the governor tried to dismiss the multiple allegations by saying, “I think this is probably the most difficult moment in state government in modern history. The rebirth is the second most challenging task after COVID.”

   Gov. Cuomo continues to say that the allegations are “not true.” The contradiction did not seem to bother the governor, when he was asked whether his accusers were lying, and he said, “No.”

   The governor repeated his previous statements that he was “unaware that he ever made anyone uncomfortable,” and his inappropriate interactions were just the way he speaks, take photos, and works with others.

(Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)