State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Sunday said that Gov. Andrew Cuomo “must resign,” as the number of sexual harassment accusers against him has grown to five.
In a brief statement issued shortly after a press briefing in which Cuomo vowed not to step down, Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) cited not only the mushrooming sexual harassment scandal, but also other black eyes including a looming federal probe over the Cuomo administration’s accounting of the coronavirus death toll in nursing homes.
“Everyday there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government,” said Stewart-Cousins. “We have allegations about sexual harassment, a toxic work environment, the loss of credibility surrounding the COVID-19 nursing home data and questions about the construction of a major infrastructure project.
“New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the societal, health and economic impacts of it,” she continued. “We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state Governor Cuomo must resign.”
Stewart-Cousins said last week — when Cuomo’s accusers numbered three: Lindsey Boylan, Charlotte Bennett and Anna Ruch — that the governor must step down if the number grew any higher.
Two more accusers — ex-aides Ana Liss and Karen Hinton — came forward on Saturday.
Stewart-Cousins previously said that further action should hinge on the findings of a probe by state Attorney General Letitia James into the allegations.
Cuomo has apologized to some of the women for making inappropriate comments, but steadfastly denied improper physical contact, as alleged by all of the women except Bennett.
The Cuomo administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did state Assembly Majority Leader Carl Heastie (D-Bronx).
