Potential Impeachment and Criminal Accusations Loom
The once-lauded Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned on August 10 shortly after the release of a report from New York State Attorney General’s Letitia James, a fellow Democrat, into sexual allegations against the governor.
His resignation comes after the Governor’s legal team attempted to discredit some of the accusers and offered a defiant defense of his actions.
Cuomo’s fall from fame has been swift, with allies abandoning the scandal-clad governor as he attempted to cling to power. As previously reported by the Smithtown Messenger, the governor has lost key allies in the Democratic Party, including Nassau County and State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs and the incumbent President Joe Biden.
In fourteen days from the announcement, the resignation is official, and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will become the fifty-seventh governor of the State of New York, and the first woman to head the Empire State.
The Legal Team and its Defense
Part of what makes Cuomo’s resignation so shocking to longtime observers is that he and his legal team have doubled down on his innocence. The attempt to downplay the accusations, discredit certain accusers, and paint an independent investigation as a witch hunt was seen as a surprising tactic.
Initially, Cuomo led a press conference in which he stated that “I have lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just not who I am, and that’s not who I have ever been.”
He further added that “There are generational and cultural perspectives that frankly, I have not fully appreciated.”
Civil rights attorney Leo Terrel stated that it was offensive to hear the governor use his Italian heritage to avoid justice. Terrel voiced his concern in an interview with Fox News.
Cuomo used the same tactic with phrases he used, such as “ciao bella.”
To further cement the actions as misinterpreted, there was an accompanying slideshow of Cuomo hugging and kissing men and women as he greeted them throughout the years.
As stated in the body of legislation Cuomo signed as Governor, however, sexual harassment includes “sexually offensive remarks or jokes; and unwanted touching or groping” amongst other actions.
Both categories of behavior were credibly found to have occurred in AG James’ report.
Then, on August 8, Cuomo’s legal team dug in their heels further.
One attorney went so far as to call it a “targeted” report that “purposefully omitted evidence in Cuomo’s favor.
Rita Galvin, one of Cuomo’s counselors, said that “The investigation was done to support a predetermined narrative.”
From the press conference the legal team conducted, it sounded as though they were preparing to defend these accusations. The legal team also claimed they were not permitted access to the testimony of the accusers.
In retrospect, one can speculate that this was more of public relations exercise than a legal one to test how the public reacted to the stunt.
In the absence of public support, the Governor then opted out of this battle – even as criminal charges loom.
Reactions Across the Region
“The governor’s resignation is an admission of guilt,” exclaimed Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R,C,I-Riverhead).
“Had he responded to the Judiciary Committee and accepted the due process of the Legislature, it would be a different story,” she said.
“However, the Judiciary Committee will continue its investigation into the nursing home cover-up, his book deal and the sexual harassment allegations. It is a sad day for New York with this resignation, but a great day now that we have our first female governor.”
The Assembly Minority Leader forwarded a statement from by the GOP members of the Judiciary Committee:
“The Republican members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee remain committed to completing our impeachment investigation of the governor. The people of the state of New York deserve a full, public disclosure of the information obtained during our search for the truth. We intend to hold Gov. Andrew Cuomo accountable on behalf of his victims, including the 15,000 innocent lives lost in nursing homes. This has been a thorough, significant endeavor and we will strive to bring closure to all of the grieving families.”
Giglio’s pivot to the next governor was also common among her colleagues across the aisle.
“The Governor has done the right thing by resigning,” said Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY3)
“There is no doubt that Andrew Cuomo has accomplished much for our state, from the property tax cap to rebuilding our infrastructure, to instituting a $15 min wage and battling COVID,” he added.
Suozzi joined other Democrats who, even while urging the Governor to resign, offered praise for his past accomplishments.
The divergence on tone and what comes next seems to be what is dividing Democrats and Republicans at this juncture.
While Democrats near unanimously praised the legacy of Cuomo and focus on the ascension of Hochul to the Governorship, Republicans are quick to name the scandals in question and point towards the next investigative step.
State Senator Alexis Weik believes that “Governor Cuomo’s decision to resign is the right decision.”
Like Giglio, she found that “With the numerous allegations he is facing—sexual harassment claims from nearly a dozen women that have each been proven credible, his Administration’s handling and alleged cover-up of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, and a multi-million-dollar book deal—it is clear he is no longer fit to serve the people of New York.”
Before praising the “courageous women” who stepped forward, Senator Mario Mattera (R,C-Smithtown) made sure to include that “They (Cuomo and any staffers that assisted him) must all be held accountable, and it is imperative that all ongoing and future investigations be allowed to proceed to their rightful conclusions.”
Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R,C – Smithtown) agreed.
“[Governor Cuomo] used the perceived power of his position to take advantage of young women. His governing style was to rule by fear and, therefore, he had few friends in Albany. The investigations into the nursing home deaths and his lucrative book deal must be completed.”
What Comes Next?
What immediately comes next will either be the initiation of Cuomo’s impeachment before his resignation is official, or the ascension of Hochul as Governor.
The latter may be more likely as some pundits speculate that the Democrats in control of both legislative chambers will want to get this controversy in their rear-view mirror.
Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie (D-Queens) assured the media that no deal was struck between Cuomo and the Assembly for his resignation, leading others to believe that business will trudge on as planned.
Once Hochul assumes her new position, she will then govern amidst a difficult position. Marred by scandal, she was a part of the previous administration and already potentially has an enemy in Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens).
The fierce critic of Cuomo said that the state “can’t just usher in another Cuomo validator into this discussion.”
He is calling for accountability in both the nursing home deaths and the sex scandals. This may put him on a collision course with incoming Governor Hochul, who is now tasked with managing the pandemic.
While it is unclear if Hochul will run for election, Congressman Lee Zeldin has already shifted gears and attacked her in his Cuomo reaction:
“Unfortunately, for New Yorkers, we’re left with Cuomo’s Lieutenant who empowered this disgusting behavior while Andrew Cuomo cultivated this toxic culture, leaving a trail of victims in its wake,” Zeldin said.
“Kathy Hochul has been silent scandal after scandal, from fatal nursing home policies and cover-ups, to rampant harassment, intimidation, bullying and abuse. In November of 2022, we must rid New York of the Cuomo-Hochul administration and its disgraceful legacy,” Zeldin declared.
