Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who in 2017 led petitions for her Democratic senator Al Franken to resign on charges of sexual misconduct, said Sunday that she finally demanded that Governor Andrew Cuomo withdraw her own harassment scandal because of the need for leadership amid the coronavirus. pandemic.
Gillibrand, the U.S. junior senator in New York, had taken heat to wait until Friday to demand Cuomo’s resignation, despite being at the forefront of the push to oust Franken, the hilarious “Saturday Night Live” turned into legislator representing Minnesota.
At an unrelated press conference Sunday in midtown Manhattan, Gillibrand said he finally decided to go out against Cuomo because he felt it was important for New York to be run by someone capable of paying his undivided attention to the pandemic.
“Every situation is different,” Gillibrand said, asking how the charges against Cuomo compared to the charges against Franken, who eventually resigned after several women accused him of inappropriate physical contact.
“What is very unique about this moment is that we are in the midst of the worst crisis of our lives.
“You need focused leadership and you need the support of your government partners.”
Seven women, including five current or former Cuomo officials, have repeatedly accused the governor of inappropriate comments or physical contact in recent weeks.
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers had already begged Cuomo to step down when Gillibrand and his New York senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, arrived to make their own call on Friday.
“Because of the multiple and credible allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the trust of his government partners and the people of New York,” he said Sunday, doubling his explanation. “That’s why I think the governor should resign.”
In the event of Cuomo’s resignation, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul would assume the office of governor under state law.
But last Friday, Cuomo, now in his third term, said he had no intention of stepping down, promising to see New York go through its public health crisis.
While apologizing for inappropriate comments about the workplace, he has strongly denied any inappropriate physical contact.