OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
New York Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo’s career has hit an iceberg and it may be the end of the road for him as his state’s top elected official.
Speculation is running rampant about his future, with many wondering if he will run for a fourth reign as governor and others wondering if he will resign after New York Attorney general Letitia James unveiled the results of her investigation and found that the governor engaged in multiple incidents of sexual harassment.
But there is a third option for what could happen to Gov. Cuomo next and that is impeachment.
Democrat New York Speaker of the House Carl Heastie issued a statement on Tuesday after the allegations were unveiled by James and it did not sound promising for the governor.
“We have received the Attorney General’s 168-page report containing findings of sexual harassment and misconduct committed by Governor Cuomo. The findings contained in the report are disturbing. The details provided by the victims are gut-wrenching. Our hearts go out to all the individuals who have had to endure this horrible experience. The conduct by the Governor outlined in this report would indicate someone who is not fit for office,” the Speaker said.
“The report has been forwarded to the members of the Judiciary Committee as well as all members of the Assembly. We will now undertake an in-depth examination of the report and its corresponding exhibits with our Assembly counsels as well as the legal firm we have retained to assist us. We will have more to say in the very near future,” he said.
Republican Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay also said that Gov. Cuomo is not fit for office, WHAM reported.
“It is in the best interest of the people of New York state for Gov. Cuomo to immediately resign and if he refuses to do so, the Legislature should take the necessary and immediate steps to have him impeached and forcibly removed from office,” he said.
Democrat Senate Majority Leader Andrew Stewart-Cousins said that Gov. Cuomo should resign for “the good of the state.”
“Now that the investigation is complete and the allegations have been substantiated, it should be clear to everyone that he can no longer serve as Governor. Our highest elected offices must reflect the values and integrity that they profess and New Yorkers hold dear. I thank the Attorney General and her investigators for their thorough investigation. I also wanted to give a special thank you to the courageous women who bravely stepped forward to shed light on this awful situation. We all owe them a debt of gratitude,” the Leader said.
“With Attorney General Tish James announcing the completion of her fair and transparent investigation into the sexual harassment and hostile workplace allegations against Gov. Cuomo, it is clear that his actions are plainly, and without a doubt, unacceptable. I can only imagine how difficult it was for those on the receiving end of his treatment to come forward and am grateful for the efforts to bring justice to the victims of this behavior. It is clear that the governor is no longer fit to hold office,” Republican Assemblyman Josh Jensen.
And after hearing James’ graphic details of the findings, it may be in Cuomo’s best personal interests to resign.
“Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and in doing so violated federal and state law,” the attorney general said.
And the report on Gov. Cuomo was damning.
“For over three months, Executive Assistant #1 kept this groping incident to herself and planned to take it “to the grave,”4 but found herself becoming emotional (in a way that was visible to her colleagues in the Executive Chamber) while watching the Governor state, at a press conference on March 3, 2021, that he had never ‘touched anyone inappropriately’ She then confided in certain of her colleagues, who in turn reported her allegations to senior staff in the Executive Chamber,” the report said.
