After visiting the governor Andrew Cuomo New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that in response to an investigation that found that the governor sexually harassed 11 women, Cuomo should also be criminally charged.
“Yes. If you attack a woman, if you do something against her will, in terms of sex, it’s a crime,” de Blasio told CBS David Bergno of the News. “The Albany District Attorney is investigating this matter, and I think he should be charged.”
On Tuesday morning, New York State’s Attorney General Letia James announced the results of an investigation conducted by her office and concluded that Cuomo harassed 11 women and retaliated against a person who presented her story. Former employees and violated other state and federal laws in doing so.
Since the announcement, many top Democratic Party, Including the president Joe Biden, Once called on Cuomo to resign.
After several women filed allegations earlier this year that the governor had sexual misconduct in the workplace, de Blasio first called on Cuomo to step down.
De Blasio said in a brief statement on Tuesday that the investigation proved that “Andrew Cuomo is not suitable for public office and can no longer serve as governor.”
The mayor said: “He must resign. If he continues to resist and attack investigators who perform his duties, he should be impeached immediately.”
On Wednesday, De Blasio elaborated on his resignation call, stating that Cuomo should resign for the “benefit of New York State and our people.”
“If he doesn’t do this, then the clamor that prevails at this point-the Democratic Party and Republicans De Blasio said: “Say’he must go’-this will win. If he wants to wait for impeachment, he can, but our state legislature will do so soon.”
According to the New York State Constitution, the task of the state legislature is to implement impeachment proceedings, requiring only a majority of votes to impeach “improper conduct or malice.”
In March, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie initiated an impeachment investigation against Cuomo, but the investigation is still ongoing.
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However, Cuomo continued to insist that he did nothing wrong and denied the allegations in the James report.
The governor said in a statement on Tuesday: “I have never inappropriately contacted anyone or made inappropriate sexual provocations.” “I am 63 years old this year. My entire adult life has been spent in public view. That’s not the case. Myself.”
De Blasio called Cuomo’s defensive response “painful”.
“When you read this report, 11 women were systematically wronged, and 11 women faced a powerful person who could ruin their career and reputation — and everyone thought that if you Go past him and he will be that kind of person,” De Blasio said. “He harassed them. He attacked them in several cases.”
“Then he boldly said,’Oh, I like to hug people.’ This is out of touch with reality, but it is also very disrespectful,” the mayor added. “How to say,’I did something wrong. I must atone for my sins. I need to deal with my problems.'”
Since the mayor took office in 2014, De Blasio and Como have been at odds. Their years of competition escalated during last year’s coronavirus pandemic. Because the two had differences on the issue of a unified response to COVID, Como vetoed De Blasio time and time again.
Earlier this week, De Blasio announced that New York City will become the first city in the United States to require at least one COVID vaccine vaccination certificate for various indoor activities. The authorization will take effect from August 16.
Weekly newspaper Contacted Cuomo’s office for comments, but received no response before publication.
