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New York Democratic Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer have joined a long list of politicians in calling for their state’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, to resign amid mounting allegations of inappropriate conduct.
“Confronting and overcoming the Covid crisis requires sure and steady leadership,” a joint statement read.
“We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct. Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign.”
RELATED:‘I feel awful’: Governor’s grovelling apology
In a statement on Friday evening, New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries, stopped short of calling for Cuomo’s resignation.
Noting the state Assembly’s and attorney general’s investigation, he said: “Under these extraordinary circumstances, the Governor must seriously consider whether he can continue to effectively lead the state. No one is above the law.”
The senators’ statement came amid mounting pressure on leading Democrats to speak out about the accusations, which include sexual harassment.
In a bizarre scene, Cuomo was captured walking on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion wrapped in a blanket.
The picture has been turned into a viral meme on social media, with people poking fun, including Washington editor of Spectator USA Amber Athey, who joked that it reflected her plans for the evening.
On Thursday, Cuomo held a press conference in which he continued to maintain his innocence and refused to resign.
“Politicians who don’t know a single fact but yet form a conclusion and an opinion are in my opinion reckless and dangerous. The people of New York should not have confidence in a politician who takes an opinion without knowing the facts and substance,” Cuomo said at the conference.
“People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture and the truth. Let the review proceed, I’m not going to resign, I was not elected by the politicians, I was elected by the people.”
He cast himself as an outsider who is being targeted by the political elite denying he had ever abused, harassed or assaulted anyone.
“I am not part of the political club, and you know what? I am proud of it,” he said. “I have been in the public eye my entire life.
“My entire life I have been under public scrutiny, since I was 23 years old and ran my father’s campaign. New Yorkers know me. Wait for the facts.”
RELATED:Aide details sexual harassment allegations
If he continues to stay in office, he will likely face heightened pressure both within and outside of his administration.
Besides the state Assembly pursuing an impeachment investigation, New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting an independent investigation of the allegations.
At least seven women have levelled accusations that surfaced in recent weeks, including one who claimed the governor groped her at his executive mansion last year.
Reporting on that incident appeared to prompt the state to file a police report. Albany Police Department said Thursday the alleged incident that was reported occurred at the governor’s mansion and could have included criminal conduct.
This story originally appeared on Fox News and is reproduced here with permission
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