“Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of the people of New York,” Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement. “Governor Cuomo must resign.”
The New York governor has been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct ranging from lewd conversation to groping a staffer in the governor’s mansion late last year. Cuomo has denied the allegations made against him, but apologized for making people feel uncomfortable with his actions. He has also steadfastly refused to step down and said it would be anti-democratic for him to do so.
New York Attorney General Tish James is conducting an investigation into the allegations made against Cuomo in recent weeks, an effort being led by a pair of outside attorneys. And the Democrat-led state Assembly, which would initiate potential impeachment proceedings, on Thursday announced plans to launch a probe of its own.
The nine lawmakers join Rep. Kathleen Rice, who was among the earliest elected Democrats to call for the governor to step down. Republicans in New York’s congressional delegation and on the state level have also demanded Cuomo’s ouster.
Senators have not been quick to ask for Cuomo’s exit, including the New York delegation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the most recent allegation “nauseating” on SiriusXM satellite radio on Thursday and has called for an investigation, but has stopped short of telling Cuomo to go as of Friday morning. Schumer is up for reelection in 2022 and could face a primary challenge from the left from one of the progressive House members.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who was among the senators that pushed for former Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to resign amid a drip of allegations, said that the state AG should probe the “serious” allegations.
Burgess Everett contributed to this report.