As New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is facing growing calls for his resignation, state Republican lawmakers are drafting an impeachment resolution against him.
During a press conference on Monday, Republican Assemblymembers announced their intention to launch an impeachment process against him.
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R) said, “The governor’s lost so much credibility and trust that we don’t feel like he can go forward and govern, so we want to move ahead, do this impeachment assembly.”
“We’re going to introduce this resolution because we believe the time has come,” he continued. “There’s been one bombshell after another.”
Barclay added, “I don’t think I’ve used the term bombshell, especially this weekend, anytime more in my life.”
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The move comes as Cuomo is facing bipartisan calls for his resignation as multiple women have accused the governor of sexual harassment ranging from unwanted touching and kissing to asking probing questions about their personal lives that were seen as unwanted flirtation.
Cuomo has denied that he acted inappropriately and suggested that the women who have leveled accusations against him misinterpreted his actions.
In a statement on Sunday, New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) said, “Every day there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government. We have allegations about sexual harassment, a toxic work environment, the loss of credibility surrounding the Covid-19 nursing home data, and questions about the construction of a major infrastructure project.”
“New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the societal, health, and economic impacts of it. We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state Governor Cuomo must resign,” she added.
Some Democratic state lawmakers have signaled an openness to impeaching Cuomo.
However, after Republicans’ announced they are drafting an impeachment resolution against Cuomo, 20 Democratic assemblywomen said they would oppose impeachment and urged their colleagues to let the state attorney general conduct an investigation into the allegations.
The embattled governor is also reportedly facing a federal investigation into his administration’s handling of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, and outrage after his top aide admitted that officials withheld data on the true toll of the virus in nursing homes.