New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins has joined the growing number of high-ranking politicians calling for the resignation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, raising political pressure on the embattled head of the state.
Stewart-Cousins said in a statement Sunday that the issues surrounding Cuomo are drawing the government away from working on what really matters, the country's fight against the pandemic.
Stewart-Cousins is currently the highest-ranking lawmaker to request Cuomo's resignation. Her statement came after five women have now come forward to accuse Cuomo of inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment.
"New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the societal, health, and economic impacts of it. We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state, Governor Cuomo must resign," Stewart-Cousins said in a statement.
The latest person to come forward to outline her experience with Cuomo was the governor's former policy and operations aide, Ana Liss. In an article published on Saturday, Liss said that Cuomo had inappropriately touched her on several occasions. She also accused Cuomo of making inappropriate comments towards her.
Last week, another former aide, Karen Hinton, alleged that Cuomo had asked her personal questions several times. She said that Cuomo had also hugged her in a way that was "very long, too long, too tight, too intimate."
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie slammed Cuomo's behavior but stopped shy from joining the call for his resignation.
"I too share the sentiment of Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins regarding the Governor's ability to continue to lead this state. We have many challenges to address, and I think it is time for the Governor to seriously consider whether he can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York," Heastie said.
Cuomo said during a press call Monday that stepping down from his position would be "anti-democratic." Cuomo also denied all of the new allegations. He said that what lawmakers think will now "override the people's will." Cuomo slammed the lawmakers calling for his resignation and said that he was elected by the people and not by politicians.
Last week, Cuomo had issued an apology to the women that had come forward. He said that he was sorry if his actions had made them uncomfortable. Cuomo said that he did not touch anyone inappropriately and his intentions may have just been misunderstood.
