ALBANY — Lawmakers are no longer holding their tongue when it comes to Albany’s most powerful politician.
In the wake of a second woman coming forward with claims of sexual harassment against Gov. Cuomo, Democrats and Republicans alike are piling one of the most feared men in politics and calling for, at bare minimum, an independent investigation into the allegations against him.
Sen. James Skoufis (D-Newburgh), the chairman of the state Senate investigations committee, said harassment “cannot be tolerated, regardless of how powerful individuals involved are.”
“The allegations made by, now, a number of women against the Governor are deeply disturbing and warrant an independent, outside, expeditious investigation,” he added in a statement.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, commenting on the allegations against Cuomo for the first time, also called for an independent probe.
“Everyone deserves to have their voice heard and taken seriously,” she said.
A group of five Republican state senators, all women, repeated their call for Attorney General Letitia James to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the governor.
“Governor Cuomo now more than ever must be investigated. We reiterate our original request and demand Attorney General Letitia James appoint a Special Prosecutor to review all of these recent allegations,” the group said.
Related Story: Cuomo acquiesces to demand that Attorney General Letitia James control inquiry
Cuomo’s office announced an outside “review” will be conducted by a former federal judge after his latest accuser, 25-year-old Charlotte Bennett, a former executive assistant and health-policy adviser in his administration, came forward Saturday.
Bennett told The New York Times that Cuomo asked her questions about her sex life, including whether she was monogamous in her relationships and if she had ever had sex with older men.
Her claims come days after Lindsey Boylan, another former aide, wrote an online essay detailing several “inappropriate gestures” Cuomo made toward her before once kissing her on the mouth without her consent.
Several New York City mayoral candidates, who might have to forge a working relationship with the governor should they make it to City Hall, spoke out on the issue in light of the latest accusations.
Andrew Yang issued a statement calling for an “aggressive independent investigation” into the matter.
Fellow mayoral candidate Maya Wiley went further.
“I am disgusted. I believe Charlotte Bennett,” Wiley said. “Senior officials in the Governor’s office were aware of his behavior. What happened to these complaints? Why was no further action taken? How many other times has this happened?”
City Comptroller Scott Stringer, also running for mayor, said he continues to “support a thorough and truly independent investigation of the Governor’s conduct, and if it supports these serious and credible allegations, Governor Cuomo must resign.”
Others, including several of Cuomo’s fellow Democrats, went further, saying that the time for a probe had past and directly called on the embattled governor to immediately step down.
“(Gov. Cuomo), you are a monster, and it is time for you to go. Now,” Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx) tweeted.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) repeated her assertion that Cuomo should step down on Saturday, labeling the governor a “criminal sexual predator.”
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Republican who mounted a failed bid to unseat Cuomo in 2018, said the governor should resign if an independent investigation confirms the claims.
“We start by believing these courageous women. There must be a serious independent investigation, victims heard, truth sought and justice served,” he said. “If true, the Governor is not fit to serve. He must resign or be removed from office.”
___
(c)2021 New York Daily News
Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
—-
This content is published through a licensing agreement with Acquire Media using its NewsEdge technology.
I smell a rat here. When the democrat communists want this man gone, then they have someone else in mind for Governor, and they will be worse. Cuomo is the fall guy. That said, where is the woman who blew the whistle against Joe Biden? Why not calls for Biden’s resignation, or is this what they have in mind to get Biden out of office and slide Kamala in?
The democrats have zero integrity, and nothing is beyond them or too evil for them.
You smell a rat all right, a BIG ONE and it is the Kamala Communist Cabal ,who when done with useful idiots like California Newsom and New York CUomo, who used to be her biggest 2024 Presidential run competition, idiots used to take down Trump are now posing a threat to Communist Kamala’s takeover of the PResidency when Joe gets declared mentally unfit. Democrat socialists will turn on their own faster than Stalin turned on Debilitated Lenin, then eliminated any fellow communist who stood in his way of power. The Kamala crew will do to them in the media, what Stalin did to others with bullets and executions. To Kamala the “ME TOO” is the rope they sold Cuomo, which like Karl Marx predicted ,would be the rope he would use that the Capitalist sold to him to hang them with.
Am I the only one who sees this coming? Please say its not so,
Bingo! Yes, I did see this coming, and probably others like me who wish that this was not so. Facts are facts and you are exactly correct. Biden’s adultery with his now wife didn’t bother the communist democrats, Biden’s dementia/alzheimers doesn’t bother them. Nothing does. They have far more sinister plans than the fall guy Cuomo. They do nothing without collaborating within their circle, with Soros or with the CCP. And probably all three, oh, and I forgot Big Tech.
The mask wearing was a trial run on what the people will OBEY. Now it is two masks. I believe people will comply no matter what, with the exception of a few who read and follow this to its logical conclusion.
Which is why I do not believe Conservatives will ever win again. I pray I am absolutely wrong, but don’t think so. These communists are following their mantra. “Seize power as fast and as ruthlessly as possible.”
And when all else fails, CALL those who don’t obey, Terrorists, enemies of the state, bigots, racists etc.. WHAT ever works to demonize them into silence.
While he IS a rat, and should pay, i DO find it interesting, its only NOW we’re finding out about all these accusations..
WHERE were they all of 2018 and 19, during the HEIGHT of the me-too movement???
Where are the ‘I believe her’ crowd hiding ?
Only two days after Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations were made public, Harris declared, “I believe her.”
https://nypost.com/2020/09/04/never-forget-kamala-harris-cruel-lies-in-the-kavanaugh-confirmation-fight/
They are testing the breezes before making a commitment regarding Cover-up Cuomo, typical politicians of the Left mainly, after all one has to consider that Italian fondness for revenge. Even if somebody has the photos, Cuomo will deny it is him and claim it is his body-double that famous people have to have, like the food tasters of old. 🙂
ITS a fellow dem that these women are accusing.. SO OF COURSE they don’t believe them always… Gotta wait for facts ya see.. Something conservatives never get.
The filth of Governor Emmy Award winner Cuomo. What does one expect, because the Democrats are filth, as they are morally bankrupt. Hey Hollywood, how is your Emmy Award to Governor Cuomo now?
They’re probably STILL proud of awarding it..
Speaking of Me Too, what ever happened to Fat Pig Weinstein – is all that slime swept under the rug like the Epstein Black Book, Hillary’s emails, etc.??
It’s non-news now.. Orange man no longer in the white house, has taken over.
What about Fat Pig Weinstein and the Me Too crowd – swept under the rug along with the Epstein Black Book and Hillary’s emails? Nothing to see here that would incriminate slimy Cuomo?
Speaking of Epstein, ever notice the Clinton connection and the proclivity of those as potential witnesses tend toward suicidal or accident prone?