BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York State Republican Party Chair Nick Langworthy said the state Assembly Judiciary Committee leading the impeachment probe of Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been moving far too slow for months now.
"Time is up," Langworthy said. "Carl Heastie, call that Assembly back into session immediately."
He said the committee can no longer wait, now that Attorney General Letitia James' report on sexual harassment allegations against the governor has been released, and the entire body must bring articles of impeachment against the governor no later than next week.
"This governor's too smart," Langworthy said. "This governor knows state government better than anyone in the state of New York. He's too dangerous to leave in power. To let him have control of the entirety of New York State government while he knows his days are numbered and he's a rat backed into a corner, it's dangerous to the taxpayers of New York state."
He said he has no confidence the governor will step down on his own and his video response to the report Tuesday was evidence he is preparing to dig in his heels.
"It was asinine. It was ridiculous and it shows just that he will stoop to no level, that he will admit to nothing, and he has no shame but he has no intention of resigning this office and any politician that you talk to today that says, 'well, I'm going to call for his resignation,' that's just hollow words. That time is over. It is time for action," Langworthy said.
The chair points out the moment the Assembly brings impeachment articles, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul becomes acting governor until a state Senate trial is completed. He said that's what needs to happen even as news Hochul was not interviewed as part of the attorney general's probe makes him further question her preparedness.
"You've got a lot of her allies here in Buffalo saying she's going to be so prepared for this office," he said. "I'm not sure she knows the layout of that office at this point."
Langworthy said he believes Cuomo is unquestionably the most corrupt governor in the history of the state and points out Tuesday's report doesn't even address other potential scandals like an alleged coverup of nursing home death numbers or the use of public resources while writing his book about the COVID-19 pandemic.