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

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing allegations of sexual harassment, and criticism for his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis in nursing homes.

Originally published 3/5/21, last updated 3/12/21

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing mounting criticism for his behavior in multiple scandals. In recent weeks, several women have accused him of inappropriate behavior, including two former staffers who say the governor sexually harassed them. On March 10, the Times Union reported on an aide who said Cuomo reached under her shirt and groped her during a meeting in Albany. His administration is also facing fire for its handling of the COVID-19 crisis in New York’s nursing homes, including reports that Cuomo’s aides altered a July report to under-count the number of nursing home residents who died. The governor has recently been accused by fellow lawmakers of governing through bullying and intimidation.

On March 5, the state legislature voted to strip Cuomo of the emergency powers he was granted at the beginning of the pandemic, including his authority to issue new directives.

For his part, the governor has acknowledged that he’d “acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable” in the past, but denied the most serious sexual misconduct allegations against him.

“I never touched anyone inappropriately,” Cuomo said during a press briefing March 3, where he implored the public to await the results of an investigation by Attorney General Letitia James into the sexual harassment complaints against him.

“I ask the people of this state to wait for the facts from the Attorney General’s report before forming an opinion,” he added.

A number of lawmakers and local leaders, however, would rather not wait. Some want the governor to resign immediately, while others are pushing for the state legislature to start impeachment proceedings.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement that the various allegations are “drawing away from the business of government.”

“We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state Governor Cuomo must resign,” she said.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, meanwhile, said in a statement that he agreed with Stewart-Cousins’ “sentiment” but did not outright call for Cuomo’s resignation. He later announced that the Assembly’s Judiciary Committee will launch an impeachment investigation into the misconduct claims against the governor, which will take place in addition to the probe being conducted by the attorney general.

Five Democratic state senators from Long Island — John Brooks, James Gaughran, Todd Kaminsky, Anna Kaplan and Kevin Thomas — released a statement calling for the governor to “step aside” and hand off executive powers to Hochul until James’ investigation concludes.

Below, City Limits has compiled a list of those who have publicly called for Cuomo’s resignation and/or impeachment. Know any we missed? Email us at editor@citylimits.flywheelstaging.com.

Calls for Cuomo’s Resignation

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

Rep. Jamaal Bowman

Rep. Yvette Clarke

Rep. Antonio Delgado

Rep. Adriano Espaillat

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis

Rep. Carolyn Maloney

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney

Rep. Grace Meng

Rep. Jerrold Nadler

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Rep. Kathleen Rice

Rep. Elise Stefanik

Rep. Paul Tonko

Rep. Nydia Velazquez

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

State Sen. Fred Akshar

State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi

State Sen. Jabari Brisport

State Sen. Samra Brouk

State Sen. George Borrello

State Sen. Phil Boyle

State Sen. Patrick Gallivan

State Sen. Michael Gianaris

State Sen. Andrew Gounardes

State Sen. Joseph Griffo

State Sen. Pamela Helming

State Sen. Michelle Hinchey

State Sen. Brad Hoylman

State Sen. Robert Jackson

State Sen. Daphne Jordan

State Sen. Brian Kavanagh

State Sen. Liz Krueger

State Sen. Andrew Lanza

State Sen. John Liu

State Sen. John Mannion

State Sen. Mike Martucci

State Sen. Mario Mattera

State Sen. Rachel May

State Sen. Shelley Mayer

Sen. Zellnor Myrie

State Sen. Peter Oberacker

State Sen. Thomas O’Mara

State Sen. Anthony Palumbo

State Sen. Robert Ortt

State Sen. Jessica Ramos

State Sen. Edward Rath III

State Sen. Patty Richie

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera

State Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick

State Sen. Julia Salazar

State Sen. James Sanders Jr.

State Sen. Sue Serino

State Sen. James Skoufis

State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky

State Sen. Daniel Stec

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

State Sen. James Tedisco

State Sen. Alexis Weik

State Assembly Member Tom Abinanti

State Assembly Member Khaleel M. Anderson

State Assembly Member Brian Barnwell

State Assembly Member Harry Bronson

State Assembly Member Kenny Burgos

State Assembly Member Pat Burke

State Assembly Member Marianne Buttenschon

State Assembly Member Robert Carroll

State Assembly Member Sarah Clarke

State Assembly Member Catalina Cruz

State Assembly Member Simcha Eichenstein

State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein

State Assembly Member Nathalia Fernández

State Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest

State Assembly Member Mathylde Frontus

State Assembly Member Emily Gallagher

State Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas

State Assembly Member Judy Griffin

State Assembly Member Richard Gottfried

State Assembly Member Aileen Gunther

State Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi

State Assembly Member Jonathan Jacobson

State Assembly Member Anna Kelles

State Assembly Member Ron Kim

State Assembly Member Jennifer Lunsford

State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani

State Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes

State Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou

State Assembly Member Amy Paulin

State Assembly Member Victor M. Pichardo Jr.

State Assembly Member Dan Quart

State Assembly Member Karines Reyes

State Assembly Member Diana Richardson

State Assembly Member Carmen De La Rosa

State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal

State Assembly Member Daniel Rosenthal

State Assembly Member Nily Rozic

State Assembly Member Angelo Santabarbara

State Assembly Member Amanda Septimo

State Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon

State Assembly Member Carrie Woerner

Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer

Councilmember Fernando Cabrera

Councilmember James Gennaro

Councilmember Ben Kallos

Councilmember Brad Lander

Councilmember Carlos Menchaca

Mayoral candidate Art Chang

Mayoral candidate Shaun Donovan

Mayoral candidate Kathryn Garcia

Comptroller and mayoral candidate Scott Stringer

Mayoral candidate Maya Wiley

Center for Popular Democracy

Make the Road

National Organization for Women

New York State Young Democrats

Times Union Editorial Board

VOCAL-NY

Working Families Party


Calls for Cuomo’s Impeachment

Dianne Morales

State Assembly Republican Conference


Supports impeachment and/or resignation

City Council Candidate Tiffany Cabán

NYC Democratic Socialists of America