Andrew Cuomo ought to nonetheless be impeached regardless of his resignation, a New York meeting member has argued, as a part of a marketing campaign to disclaim him his $50,000-a-year pension and stop him from working for workplace ever once more.
Cuomo, 63, stepped down on Tuesday as governor of New York, bringing an finish to a 40-year political profession that made him a pandemic hero however that now lies in ruins.
His destiny was sealed with a damning report by Lawyer Common Letitia James, revealed per week in the past, which labeled him a serial sexual harasser.
The quickly to be former governor nonetheless faces legal investigations and at the least one lawsuit, and Carl Heastie, the speaker of the meeting, is but to say whether or not impeachment proceedings will proceed after he steps down.
There may be nothing to cease Cuomo pardoning himself preemptively in opposition to future legal costs, mentioned Andrew McCarthy, who served as assistant U.S. legal professional for the Southern District of New York. However he informed Fox News that Cuomo was unlikely to take action, as a result of it could imply him admitting that he was criminally accountable – which he denies.
Yuh-Line Niou, a Democrat representing decrease Manhattan, mentioned on Tuesday that the impeachment ought to proceed.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo walks along with his daughter Michaela, 23, to a helicopter shortly after saying his resignation on Tuesday, per week after being dubbed a serial sexual harasser by AG Letitia James
Yuh-Line Niou has known as for Cuomo to be stripped of his $50,000-a-year state pension
‘Whilst he introduced his resignation, Governor Cuomo continued to gaslight the ladies he harassed and the individuals of New York,’ she mentioned on Twitter.
‘Our state now begins an essential therapeutic course of and meaning accepting that Albany’s poisonous tradition of abuse and harassment is not going to finish just because Governor Cuomo is gone.
‘We should do not forget that the governor’s misuse of workplace extends far past the ladies he victimized. It extends to the hundreds of thousands he made utilizing our tax {dollars} on a e book deal in whole mockery of state ethics legal guidelines. It extends to the victims of COVID-19 whose deaths he hid from state lawmakers. This can be a sample of his abuse of energy and impeachment is an applicable and needed step.
‘Impeachment means New York is not going to be paying Andrew Cuomo’s pension for the remainder of his life after disgusting abuses of energy.
‘Impeachment means Governor Cuomo will be unable to run for workplace once more by claiming to be the sufferer and gaslighting the true victims.
‘Resignation shouldn’t be the answer, it’s a lengthy overdue first step,’ she mentioned.
Many political pundits speculated on Tuesday that Cuomo’s resignation was his manner of leaving the door open for a political comeback.
Have been he to be impeached, he could be barred from holding workplace for the remainder of his life.
Cuomo spoke from New York Metropolis. He has been hiding out in Albany since final week, when the Lawyer Common’s report was launched
Impeachment wouldn’t deprive him of his hefty authorities pension – however two state politicians, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara and Senator James Skoufis, say they plan to introduce a invoice that will strip state pensions from anybody impeached by the state legislature. The invoice would apply retroactively.
That bill was launched on August 6, however making this a actuality could be a multi-year course of.
Cuomo, the very best paid governor in American historical past, earns $225,000 a yr – dwarfing the wage of the governor of Maine, the bottom paid within the nation, who earns $70,000 a yr.
The Empire Middle estimates that Cuomo’s pension could be $50,000 a yr
His pension pot is unclear: he has been governor since 2011, and earlier than that spent 4 years as New York’s legal professional common.
The Empire Middle, an Albany-based assume tank, calculates that he’ll declare at the least $50,000 a yr.
He may also obtain a federal pension from his 1997-2001 stint as Invoice Clinton’s housing secretary.
Cuomo’s predecessor George Pataki, who was governor from 1995-2006, receives an annual pension of $103,036, in response to WKBW Buffalo.
He could be stripped of his pension if he was a convicted felon.
Cuomo may also, when he steps down, lose his dwelling.
He has lived within the Governor’s Mansion in Albany full time since he and his ex-girlfriend Sandra Lee cut up up in early 2019, after 14 years collectively.
Cuomo, 63, and Lee, 54, lived collectively in Mount Kisco in a home that she purchased in 2008, she informed People.
She bought the 4 bed room lakeside property on December 23, 2020, for $1.85 million.
She has since relocated to Malibu, and is at present in St Tropez along with her new boyfriend, Algerian-born, LA-based actor Ben Yousef, 42.
Cuomo shouldn’t be thought to personal any property himself.
His brother Chris, a $5 million-a-year CNN anchor, spends a lot of his time at his home within the Hamptons.
Talking on Tuesday morning in New York Metropolis, Cuomo insisted he’s harmless and has by no means groped anybody, however is stepping apart within the curiosity of the individuals so authorities can deal with COVID.
In a 20-minute speech, he addressed his three daughters, calling them his ‘jewels’ and saying he had ‘made errors and discovered from them’, however insisting he was not the serial abuser the report made him out to be.
After the speech, he was seen leaving New York Metropolis with two of his daughters, Mariah and Michaela, and his loyal aide Melissa DeRosa, who give up on Sunday.
Cuomo addressed his three grownup daughters, calling them his ‘jewels’. ‘Your dad made errors and he apologized and he discovered from it. That is what life is all about,’ he mentioned. Cara, proper, was not with him
In his message to his daughters, Cuomo mentioned: ‘In some ways I see the world by the eyes of my daughters, Cara, Mariah and Michaela. They’re 26 and 26, twins, and 23.
‘I’ve lived this expertise with and thru them. I’ve sat on the sofa with them listening to the ugly accusations for weeks. I’ve seen the look of their eyes and expression of their faces and it harm.
‘I would like my three jewels to know this: my best objective is for them to have a greater future than the generations of girls earlier than them.
‘It’s nonetheless in some ways a person’s world. It all the time has been. Now we have sexism that’s culturized and institutionalized.
‘My daughters have extra expertise and pure presents than I ever had. I wish to guarantee that society permits them to fly as excessive as their wings will carry them. There ought to be no assumptions, stereotypes or limitations.
‘I would like them to know from the underside of my coronary heart that I by no means did or would deliberately disrespect a girl or deal with any lady in a different way than I’d need them handled. And that’s the God’s sincere fact.
‘Your dad made errors and he apologized and he discovered from it. That is what life is all about.’
President Biden, when requested about Cuomo’s resignation: ‘I respect the Governor’s choice and I respect the choice he made’.
‘Properly, he is accomplished a hell of a job. Each on all the things from entry to voting to infrastructure, an entire vary of issues. That is why it is so unhappy,’ he mentioned.
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Michaela positioned her hand on her father’s again as they made their approach to the helicopter, moments after his resignation
Cuomo was joined by his daughters Michaela, 23, and Mariah, 26 (middle). His different 26-year-old daughter Cara was not there. Melissa DeRosa, his fiercest aide who give up on Sunday, was additionally with him (far left)
Cuomo was joined by his two prime aides, Melissa DeRosa – who resigned on Sunday – and Stephanie Benton, who was pictured contained in the Govt Mansion with him earlier this week
Stephanie Benton, one other of Cuomo’s aides, was with him on Tuesday too. She is proven in crimson, with Michaela (far left), Melissa DeRosa (far proper) and Mariah, one in all his different daughters (middle in black floral gown)
The scene outdoors of Governor Cuomo’s dwelling in Albany, New York, on Tuesday
Hochul might be New York’s first feminine governor
Biden was later taken to job on how he might say Cuomo had accomplished a ‘hell of a job’ when he has been accused of misconduct.
‘Ought to he stay as governor is one query,’ mentioned Biden.
‘Ladies ought to be believed after they make accusations when they’re in a position that on the face of them make sense and investigated, they’re investigated, a judgement was made, what they mentioned was right. That is one factor.
‘The query is did he do a great job on infrastructure?
‘He did,’ he mentioned, including that he believes ‘outdoors of his private conduct’, Cuomo did a great job.
Among the many first to bop on his political grave have been his long-time foes Invoice de Blasio, who he often sparred with through the pandemic, and Cynthia Nixon, who he beat within the 2018 Gubernatorial race.
Republicans say Cuomo’s resignation should not be the top and that he should now be prosecuted for any intercourse crimes, and criminally investigated for the nursing dwelling scandal that many contemplate his worst offense.
Albany County District Lawyer spokesperson Cecilia Walsh mentioned on Tuesday that its workplace’s investigation stays ongoing regardless of Cuomo’s resignation.
‘We is not going to be making a remark concerning the resignation right now. Our inquiry into legal conduct in our jurisdiction stays open and pending,’ she mentioned.
Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y mentioned: ‘The corrupt reign of King Cuomo is over eventually, however the combat for justice and accountability is simply starting.
‘Investigations into Cuomo’s abuse of energy, corruption, and legal misconduct should proceed.
‘Cuomo ought to be instantly prosecuted, not only for sexual harassment and assault, but in addition for his lethal nursing dwelling insurance policies and subsequent cowl up.’
Janice Dean, a FOX meteorologist whose in-laws died in nursing houses with COVID, mentioned Cuomo nonetheless needed to be investigated.
Final yr, his administration counted 1000’s of nursing dwelling deaths as hospital deaths after he signed then rescinded an order that nursing houses needed to settle for COVID-positive sufferers.
Critics say it was a deliberate cover-up.
He says it was an harmless counting mistake.
‘I would like justice,’ mentioned Dean.
‘I do not need this to be the top of the chapter. I would like investigations to proceed. I would like justice for these courageous girls that got here ahead and I would like justice for many who don’t have any voice, who’re in a grave proper now due to his mandate.
When requested how Cuomo had carried out as Governor, President Joe Biden mentioned on Tuesday: ‘Properly, he is accomplished a hell of a job. Each on all the things from entry to voting to infrastructure, an entire vary of issues. That is why it is so unhappy.’
Dancing on his political grave: Cuomo enemies de Blasio, Letitia James and Cynthia Nixon – who he defeated in 2018 – have been amongst those that celebrated his downfall on Tuesday
‘Remember the over 15,000 family members that deserve solutions. We have not talked about these individuals. It has gotten caught up within the MeToo stuff.
‘It is an abuse of energy. That is what this man has been leaving with within the final two phrases, the abuse of energy. It is over at this time.
‘Don’t forget that he has investigations, some might flip legal. His corruption runs deep,’ Dean mentioned on Outnumbered.
In his assertion, Cuomo apologized to the ladies who he ‘offended’ and mentioned he did not perceive how the ‘line had been redrawn’ by #MeToo.
Impeachment by the New York State Meeting was trying extra like an inevitability for Cuomo, with 86 of the 150 members confirming final week they’d vote him out – ten greater than could be wanted.
They weren’t simply trying on the sexual harassment report but in addition claims that Cuomo used state assets to fund his e book, gave his household early entry to COVID exams and obscured the variety of nursing dwelling residents who died from the virus to keep away from criticism after ordering 1000’s of them again in into houses.
‘One of the best ways I might help now could be if I step apart and let authorities get again to governing… so subsequently that’s what I am going to do as a result of I be just right for you. Doing the fitting factor is doing the fitting factor for you,’ he mentioned.
Melissa DeRosa, one of many Governor’s most loyal aides, resigned on Sunday. She was seen visiting the Governor lower than 24 hours later. He thanked her in his resignation speech
Lindsey Boylan mentioned Cuomo harassed her with inappropriate remarks then launched a smear marketing campaign in opposition to her when she give up in 2018. Brittany Commisso says Cuomo groped her breast in his workplace in November 2020
Cuomo’s legal professional Rita Glavin spoke earlier than him on Tuesday. She undermined a few of the allegations within the AG report, saying it omits proof
Luv Guv introduced down by his personal Cuomosexuality: Born into NY political dynasty and groomed for the highest, how Andrew Cuomo stoked his Empire State-sized ego with Emmy and COVID books deal, earlier than intercourse pest and nursing dwelling scandals
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s abrupt resignation marks a surprising reversal in fortune for one of many nation’s prime political figures, bringing his profession to a crashing halt only a yr after he was inundated with fawning pleas to run for president.
Dealing with sure impeachment over a scathing New York legal professional common’s report that branded him a serial sexual harasser, Cuomo swallowed his satisfaction and introduced his resignation in a video tackle on Tuesday.
It maybe marked the closing act of the Democrat’s larger-than-life political profession, which noticed him attain the very best peaks of public adulation earlier than scandal introduced him low.
Cuomo, 63, was groomed for the political limelight from an early age, reducing his enamel as his governor father’s sharp-elbowed marketing campaign supervisor. He went on to marry (and divorce) a Kennedy, serve in Invoice Clinton’s cupboard, and is older brother to CNN primetime host Chris Cuomo.
As politicians go, he was as near royalty within the Democratic Social gathering as they arrive, and wielded his energy ruthlessly, crushing any enemies, actual or perceived
Cuomo was born in Queens in 1957, the son of Mario Cuomo, a lawyer who would go on to turn into New York governor, and his spouse Mathilda.
Andrew Cuomo served as marketing campaign supervisor throughout his father’s profitable 1982 marketing campaign for governor, later becoming a member of the administration the place he was generally known as the ‘enforcer’ for his position in ramming laws by Albany.
A lawyer by coaching, Cuomo then went on to work as a prosecutor in New York Metropolis, later getting into personal follow and founding the Housing Enterprise for the Much less Privileged (HELP), which grew into a big supplier of transitional housing for the homeless.
Mario Cuomo is proven throughout a press convention along with his household in 1977. From left: Six-year-old Christopher Cuomo, Mario Cuomo, his spouse Matilda, and their son Andrew, then 19
Andrew Cuomo is seen proper rear throughout his father’s 1986 victory speech after successful re-election as governor of New York
In 1989, Andrew Cuomo, left, joins John F. Kennedy, Jr., throughout a radio interview in New Rochelle to debate his housing initiatives for the homeless
Andrew Cuomo and Paul Simon attend Kids’s Well being Fund Profit on February 16, 1989 on the Sheraton Middle in New York Metropolis
In 1990, he married Kerri Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy. The couple had three daughters collectively earlier than separating in 2003, later divorcing.
Within the early 90s, Cuomo used his expertise with HELP to safe the chairmanship of the New York Metropolis Homeless Fee beneath Mayor David Dinkins’ administration.
Little question with the assistance of his household ties, he shortly rose in politics. In 1993, President Invoice Clinton appointed him as an assistant secretary within the Division of Housing and City Growth.
After HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros departed on the finish of Clinton’s first time period beneath the cloud of an FBI investigation, Clinton tapped Cuomo as his alternative.
Cuomo was unanimously confirmed by the Senate and served as HUD secretary by the top of Clinton’s second time period, main a push to drive lenders to situation extra mortgages for low-income homebuyers and diversify dwelling possession.
It was an effort some consider contributed to the subprime mortgage implosion that triggered the Nice Recession.
In one other controversial transfer, he created a brand new program known as ‘Neighborhood Builders’ with a workers of 800, with out appropriation from Congress, that had a nebulous objective of connecting with area people teams and elected officers throughout the nation to push the Clinton administration’s agenda.
Senator Equipment Bond, a Missouri Republican, slammed this system as ‘Cuomo’s private military.’
One HUD official was quoted on the time describing Neighborhood Builders a ‘Democratic ward heelers who act as a pipeline between Democratic metropolis officers, celebration leaders, and the administration and the Democratic Nationwide Committee.’
Housing Secretary-designate Andrew Cuomo seems to be on as President Clinton applauds throughout a information convention saying his nomination to the publish in 1996
Then-HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo, proper, helps work on a Habitat for Humanity dwelling on June 5, 1997 in southeast Washington
Andrew Cuomo (L) celebrates his election as New York Lawyer Common in 2006 along with his father former New York Governor Mario Cuomo throughout a rally held by New York Democrats
Cuomo’s first foray into New York politics went poorly, when he misplaced the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2002 regardless of sturdy fundraising.
In 2006, he efficiently ran for legal professional common, main some Democratic politicians to label him the state’s ‘comeback child.’
He was largely considered as a ideological centrist – in 2018, he beat again a liberal problem from ‘Intercourse and the Metropolis’ actor Cynthia Nixon – although he has moved left lately with the remainder of the Democratic Social gathering.
As his energy grew, Cuomo constructed a fame as an formidable, ruthless politician who was prepared to retaliate in opposition to perceived enemies and whose abrasive fashion in personal typically alienated others.
Earlier this yr, Cuomo known as a state assemblyman, Ron Kim, who had criticized the governor over the nursing dwelling disaster, and threatened to assault him publicly, in response to Kim. Cuomo would just do {that a} week later at a information briefing.
His years-long feud with liberal New York Metropolis Mayor Invoice de Blasio gave the town’s tabloids loads of fodder, from the intense to the ridiculous.
In 2016, the pair fought over the destiny of a wayward deer that had discovered its manner into Manhattan; when the deer died, every administration blamed the opposite.
At occasions their animosity precipitated confusion through the pandemic. Within the spring of 2020, de Blasio introduced metropolis faculties would shut for the remainder of the yr, solely to be corrected by Cuomo, who mentioned solely the governor had the authority to take action.
‘Lower the c**p,’ a pissed off Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president, implored each males in a Twitter publish. Adams, now the Democratic mayoral nominee, is broadly anticipated to win a November election and succeed the term-limited de Blasio.
It was the coronavirus pandemic that made Cuomo right into a family identify nationwide, remodeling him right into a hero within the eyes of many Democrats.
Meet the ‘all the way down to earth’ Irish immigrants’ daughter who will exchange Cuomo: Kathy Hochul was as soon as endorsed by the NRA and changed a male colleague who was busted soliciting intercourse on Craigslist
The lady who will exchange Andrew Cuomo is Lieutenant Kathy Hochul, the granddaughter of Irish immigrants who was handpicked by the embattled governor and has now turned in opposition to him.
Lieutenant Gov. Kathy Hochul who will exchange Cuomo if he resigns or is impeached, which is changing into more and more probably. The 62-year-old mother-of-two is an Irish immigrants’ granddaughter who began her political profession upstate with extra conservative insurance policies than Cuomo’s
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, 62, will turn into the primary feminine governor in New York’s historical past when she replaces Cuomo in two weeks, on August 24.
All through the pandemic, she has taken a quiet backseat to her boss’s very public profile after being cherry-picked by him in 2014.
She gained one other political position in 2011 by changing Rep. Chris Lee, her married male colleague who was caught soliciting girls for intercourse on Craigslist.
Hochul was solely in his seat for a yr earlier than being changed. Beforehand, she ran upstate as a extra conservative candidate and was as soon as endorsed by the NRA.
In 2007, when she was the Erie County Clerk, she went in opposition to the then Governor Elliot Spitzer’s effort to offer all undocumented migrants driver’s licenses.
She was endorsed once more in 2012, when working in opposition to Chris Collins, however she misplaced that election.
Hochul was chosen by Cuomo in 2014, changing former Lieutenant Gov. Lieutenant-Governor Robert Duff, and was re-elected together with Cuomo in 2018.
Hochul grew up in upstate New York, the daughter of a steelworker father as soon as so poor his household needed to reside in a trailer, earlier than he turned a profitable businessman.
She has served Cuomo loyally however this week, because the Lawyer Common discovered him responsible of sexually harassing at the least 11 girls, she turned on him.
Hochul – who grew up in upstate New York, the daughter of a steelworker father, has served Cuomo loyally however this week, because the Lawyer Common discovered him responsible of sexually harassing at the least 11 girls, she turned on him.
Hochul’s husband is William J. Hochul Jr, a prosecutor of 23 years whose convictions embrace these of the Lackwanna Six – six American males who joined al-Qaeda.
Hochul was endorsed by the NRA in 2007 when she was working as Erie County Clerk however she has since turn into decidedly anti-gun and is proven above at a 2019 rally in opposition to gun violence. Within the background is AG Letitia James – who discovered Cuomo responsible in her report this week
‘The AG’s investigation has documented repulsive & illegal conduct by the Governor in direction of a number of girls. I consider these courageous girls & admire their braveness coming ahead.
‘Nobody is above the legislation. Below the New York Structure, the Meeting will now decide the subsequent steps.
‘As a result of Lieutenant Governors stand subsequent within the line of succession, it could not be applicable to remark additional on the method at this second,’ she tweeted.
Her husband is William J. Hochul Jr, a prosecutor of 23 years whose convictions embrace these of the Lackwanna Six – six American males who joined al-Qaeda.
In 2011, Hochul changed Rep. Chris Lee who was caught soliciting girls for intercourse on Craigslist regardless of being married
He’s now a non-public legal professional however was beforehand the USA legal professional for the Western District of New York.
The pair reside in Buffalo in a $800,000, three-bedroom house, in response to public data.
Their children are of their early 30s. Katie, or Caitlin, works for PR agency Ideas Inc whose previous shoppers embrace The Gates Basis and the Justice Division.
Her son, William Hochul III, is a DC lawyer.
Not like Cuomo – whose father was a governor and who grew up in wealth and New York society – Hochul’s household are Irish immigrants.
On her public bio, she talks about how her mom and father lived at one time in a trailer on the grounds of the metal plant the place her father labored in Buffalo.
She describes herself as ‘progressive’ and is keenly pro-choice and pro-LGBTQ rights. Hochul is well-liked upstate, the place Cuomo’s recognition has evaporated.
‘She might be one of the crucial down-to-earth people who you can ever meet.
‘She’s gone to nice heights in authorities, but one-to-one, she is so accessible and so heat and only a very beneficiant particular person.
‘She’s all the time in a position to assist — notably girls, too,’ Meeting member Karen McMahon informed Politico lately.
‘She works arduous, she listens to individuals, she cares. In any state, you need on your lieutenant governor anyone who can do the job of governor. It doesn’t all the time occur, however in Kathy Hochul’s case she has the power to do the job if it involves it,’ Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan informed The Wall Road Journal.
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