New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks at a church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York on March 17, 2021 before receiving a Covid-19 vaccine.
Seth Little | AFP | Getty Images
A spokesman for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that the embattled Democrat would “work with a State Assembly committee” as an impeachment investigation nears its end.
Earlier in the day, attorneys for the Congregation Judiciary Committee warned Cuomo’s attorneys that impeachment proceedings were complete and gave the governor until August 13 to present all evidence to the panel.
That deadline notification came two days after a damning report from investigators, obtained by Attorney General Letitia James, that Cuomo sexually molested several women with unsolicited physical contact and comments.
“The committee’s investigation is nearing completion and the meeting will soon be examining possible charges against your client,” the warning said.
Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi replied hours later.
“The assembly has stated that it is fully and thoroughly investigating the complaints and has given the governor and his team an opportunity to present facts and their perspectives,” he said. “The governor appreciates the opportunity. We will work together.”
The Judiciary Committee opened its impeachment proceedings in March after Cuomo’s initial allegations of sexual harassment were made.
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The committee’s staff were also tasked with investigating other allegations of wrongdoing by Cuomo, including whether his staff tried to hide or alter data on coronavirus deaths in New York nursing homes, and whether he misused government resources, to promote a book he wrote about leadership in 2020.
Cuomo and his staff have denied these allegations.
The impeachment process was conducted in parallel with an investigation led by James, the Attorney General.
On Tuesday, James said the investigation found that Cuomo had sexually molested at least 11 women and is retaliating against one of them: a former employee who publicly complained about his behavior.
The 165-page report landed like a grenade in Albany and Washington, prompting dozens of Cuomo’s counterparts, including President Joe Biden, to call for his resignation.
Cuomo has so far shown no signs of planning to step down.
On the contrary, the governor issued a statement Tuesday vigorously denying some of the allegations against him and portraying himself as a victim of a political witch hunt.
But Thursday’s announcement started an impeachment clock that could count down the past few weeks and months of Cuomo’s governorship.
It is unclear how long it could take to formally indict and dismiss the governor, but lawmakers have warned it could take months.
The judiciary committee plans to meet on Monday to work out a timetable for the next steps in impeachment proceedings.
