New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D) says the chamber will end its impeachment investigation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) following his resignation.
In a statement on Friday, Heastie said, “After consulting with Chair Lavine and my majority colleagues, the Assembly will suspend its impeachment investigation upon the governor’s resignation taking effect on August 25.”
“There are two reasons for this decision. First, the purpose of the Assembly Judiciary Committee’s impeachment investigation was to determine whether Governor Cuomo should remain in office. The governor’s resignation answers that directive. Second, we have been advised by Chair Lavine – with the assistance of counsel – of the belief that the constitution does not authorize the legislature to impeach and remove an elected official who is no longer in office,” he continued.
Heastie said the investigation “although not complete, did uncover credible evidence in relation to allegations that have been made in reference to the governor.”
“Underscoring the depth of this investigation, this evidence concerned not only sexual harassment and misconduct but also the misuse of state resources in relation to the publication of the governor’s memoir as well as improper and misleading disclosure of nursing home data during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added. “This evidence – we believe – could likely have resulted in articles of impeachment had he not resigned.”
Finally, the Assembly speaker said he asked the chair of the Judiciary Committee to “turn over to the relevant investigatory authorities all the evidence the committee has gathered.”
Heastie’s statement comes after Cuomo announced he would resign after the state’s attorney general released a report that found he sexually harassed several women, as IJR reported.
The governor was facing bipartisan calls for his resignation and the prospect of a lengthy impeachment process.
Still, after his resignation, there was some speculation that the legislature would continue its impeachment proceedings. If Cuomo was impeached and convicted, he would have been barred from holding for office in the state again.