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Several Democratic members of New York’s congressional delegation, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and veteran Rep. Jerry Nadler, joined Friday in calls for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign amid a now-half-dozen allegations of sexual misconduct, as well as the lingering nursing home coronavirus scandal.
“This week, the second sexual assault allegation and the sixth harassment allegation was leveled against Governor Cuomo,” said Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx/Queens) in a joint statement with Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-Bronx/Westchester), a fellow member of the progressive “Squad.”
“The fact that this latest report was so recent is alarming, and it raises concerns about the present safety and well-being of the administration’s staff,” they continued, also referencing the Cuomo administration’s intentional efforts to obscure the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes.
“As members of the New York delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, we believe these women, we believe the reporting, we believe the Attorney General, and we believe the fifty-five members of the New York State legislature, including the State Senate Majority Leader, who have concluded that Governor Cuomo can no longer effectively lead in the face of so many challenges.”
The most recent accuser, who has not been publicly identified by name, alleges that late last year, Cuomo summoned her to his quarters at the Executive Mansion to fix his cellphone, only to reach under her blouse and grope her, according to the Albany Times Union.
That allegation has been referred to the Albany Police Department.
She is the latest of six women — five of them current or former staffers — to accuse Cuomo of inappropriate comments or physical contact since late February.
“The bravery individuals have shown in coming forward to share their experiences with Governor Cuomo is inspiring, and I stand with them in support,” said Nadler, the head of New York’s congressional delegation. “The repeated accusations against the Governor, and the manner in which he has responded to them, have made it impossible for him to continue to govern at this point.
“Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of the people of New York,” continued Nadler. “Governor Cuomo must resign.”
Issuing similar calls on Friday were Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Grace Meng, Nydia Velazquez and Mondaire Jones.
The calls come as Cuomo faces both a probe by state Attorney General Letitia James and a pending impeachment investigation in the state legisulature.
Cuomo has apologized to women for making inappropriate workplace remarks, while strongly denying allegations of improper physical contact.
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