US President Biden said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo must resign in the wake of an investigation. The investigation found he sexually harassed at least a dozen women in and out of state government. Biden also said in March that he would call for the governor’s resignation if investigators found the accusations credible. President Biden said, “I think he should resign. Let’s take one thing at a time here. I understand the state legislature may decide to impeach”. The New York attorney general announced the findings of the report on Tuesday, hastening calls for the Democrat’s resignation or impeachment. The governor remained defiant and said, “The facts are much different than what has been portrayed”. He said he never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances.
The investigation took nearly five-month. It was led by 2 outside lawyers and 11 women said that Cuomo had touched them inappropriately. They commented on their appearance or made suggestive comments about their sex lives were telling the truth. Those accusers included an aide who said Cuomo groped her breast at the governor’s mansion. A state trooper on his security said that he ran his hand or fingers across her stomach and her back. Anne Clark led the probe with former US Attorney Joon Kim. They said the allegations were corroborated to varying degrees. The New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a press statement. She said, “These interviews and pieces of evidence revealed a deeply disturbing yet clear picture: Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed current and former state employees in violation of federal and state laws”.
Investigators said that most of the women were feared retaliation if they reported the governor’s behavior. Lindsey Boylan is the first former employee to publicly accuse him of wrongdoing. The investigation’s findings were detailed in a 165-page public report and turned up the pressure on the 63-year-old governor. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand said it reinforces a call for his resignation after the report’s release. Their joint statement said, “No elected official is above the law. The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor’s office. We continue to believe that the Governor should resign”. The investigation’s findings are also expected to play an important role in an ongoing state Assembly inquiry into whether there are grounds to impeach Cuomo.