ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew Cuomo has lost the support of the Democratic leaders of the New York state Legislature.
Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the majority leader of the New York state Senate, is directly calling on Cuomo to resign.
"Every day there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government," she said in a statement released Sunday, citing "allegations about sexual harassment, a toxic work environment [and] the loss of credibility surrounding the Covid-19 nursing home data .
.. 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."Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie did not go quite as far, but said Cuomo should "seriously consider" whether he should remain in office.
"The allegations pertaining to the Governor that have been reported in recent weeks have been deeply disturbing, and have no place whatsoever in government, the workplace or anywhere else," Heastie said. "I too share the sentiment of Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins regarding the Governor's ability to continue to lead this state. We have many challenges to address, and I think it is time for the Governor to seriously consider whether he can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York."
The governor has faced calls for his resignation over the last few weeks in the face of scandals over sexual harassment allegations and how his administration handled the Covid-19 deaths of nursing home residents last year. He has said he would not do, asserting that quitting because of allegations would be "antidemocratic."
Most of the legislative Democrats who have called for the governor's resignation are long-time Cuomo opponents.
But the statements from Stewart-Cousins and Heastie are the first from people with whom the governor must work in order for state government to function. The state budget is due at the end of March, and it is typically negotiated by the the two legislative leaders and Cuomo.It’s very possible that Stewart-Cousins' statement will open the door for more legislators to make demands of their own.
Any possible impeachment proceeding would begin in Heastie's chamber, followed by a trial in the Senate. Stewart-Cousins would have no role in such a trial — since she would temporarily become acting lieutenant governor if the office's current occupant, Kathy Hochul, ascends to the top post, the state constitution says she has to sit out the process.
Stewart-Cousins said on Thursday that she thought the governor should step down if any additional women accused him of inappropriate conduct. Two did so on Saturday night.
Cuomo reiterated earlier on Sunday that he has no plans to step down.