Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, who represent New York in the U.S. Senate, have called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign as he faces multiple allegations of sexual harassment and a scandal arising from his management of the Covid-19 crisis .
Schumer and Gillibrand, Both Democrats are the most prominent officials to have called for Cuomo’s resignation to date. Her testimony added momentum to the growing tide of Cuomo’s fellow Democrats calling for him to step down.
“Given the multiple, credible allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the trust of his government partners and the people of New York,” the senators said in a joint statement. “Governor Cuomo should resign.”
On the previous Friday, Cuomo opposed a growing number of calls for resignation, calling these statements “ruthless and dangerous”.
“I’ve never molested anyone, I’ve never attacked anyone, I’ve never abused anyone,” said the three-time Democratic governor in a press conference.
Cuomo’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Schumer and Gillibrand’s testimony. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
One of Cuomo’s accusers, Lindsey Boylan, threatened Friday to launch a PAC to support the primary challengers to Schumer and Gillibrand, who at the time had not called for the governor’s resignation.
This combination of file photos shows New York’s US Representative, top row from left, Jerrold Nadler, DN.Y. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY; US Representative Elise Stefanik, R-NY; and US Representative Jamaal Bowman, D-NY. Bottom row from left, US Representative Antonio Delgado, D-NY; US Representative Carolyn Maloney, D-NY; and US Representative Mondaire Jones, D-NY. Several members of the New York Congress delegation called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to step down on Friday, March 12, 2021.
More than half of the Democratic Congress delegation in New York has called on Cuomo to resign, as have dozens of state Democratic lawmakers.
Read the full statement by Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand here:
“Dealing with and overcoming the Covid crisis requires safe and steady leadership. We praise the courageous actions of those who have made serious allegations of abuse and misconduct. Given the multiple, credible allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the trust of his government partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign. “
