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. Antonio Delgado
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney
Rep. Paul Tonko
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli
State Sen. Jabari Brisport
State Sen. Robert Jackson
State Sen. Brian Kavanagh
State Sen. John Liu
State Sen. John Mannion
Sen. Zellnor Myrie
State Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick
State Sen. Julia Salazar
State Sen. James Sanders Jr.
State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
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
Mayoral candidate Shaun Donovan
Mayoral candidate Kathryn Garcia
Comptroller and mayoral candidate Scott Stringer
Center for Popular Democracy
National Organization for Women
New York State Young Democrats
Calls for Cuomo’s Impeachment
State Assembly Republican Conference
Supports impeachment and/or resignation
City Council Candidate Tiffany Cabán