A cascade of Democratic members of Congress who represent New York in Washington on Friday called for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign amid allegations from a half dozen women he sexually harassed them or engaged in inappropriate behavior.
The calls for Cuomo to step down include influential members like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Queens progressive released a joint statement with Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who pointed to the dozens of Democrats in the state Senate and Assembly who have also called for Cuomo to resign.
“We believe these women, we believe the reporting, we believe the Attorney General, and we believe the fifty-five members of the New York State legislature," they said.
After two accounts of sexual assault, four accounts of harassment, the Attorney General’s investigation finding the Governor’s admin hid nursing home data from the legislature & public, we agree with the 55+ members of the New York State legislature that the Governor must resign. pic.twitter.com/jV5dwtuVPr
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 12, 2021
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler also called for Cuomo's resignation, saying Cuomo has "lost the confidence" of the people of New York.
Additional resignation calls on Friday came from Reps. Grace Meng, Nydia Velazquez, Adriano Espaillat, Yvette Clarke, Carolyn Maloney, Paul Tonko and Mondaire Jones.
Cuomo's resignation also has the backing of Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, the chairman of the fundraising committee for the House Democrats.
Read my statement calling for the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo. pic.twitter.com/JyZntu9HJS
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) March 12, 2021
Lawmakers also pointed to questions surrounding the construction of the replacement project for the Tappan Zee Bridge, as well as the scrutiny the governor's office is under for underreporting the number of nursing home residents who died during the pandemic.
“His mismanagement of COVID-19 spread in nursing homes and subsequent attempt to cover it up cost lives and has decimated the public’s faith in our state government," Jones said.
Until Friday morning, Rep. Kathleen Rice was the only Democratic member of the New York House delegation who had backed Cuomo's resignation.
The embattled governor has said he will not resign amid mounting calls that he do so. Cuomo has insisted he has never touched anyone inappropriately and also urged patience while Attorney General Letitia James conducts an investigation into the allegations.
Assembly Democrats on Thursday launched a separate impeachment investigation. The top Democrats in the state Senate, including Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, have also called for Cuomo to resign.