Joe Biden told reporters at the White House he wanted to see the outcome of the investigation into New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is facing pressure to resign over sexual harassment allegations.
Asked if Cuomo should resign, Biden told reporters: ‘I think the investigation is underway and we should see what it brings us.’
Cuomo faces accusations of sexual harassment leveled by seven young women and has come under pressure from revelations that his administration withheld the number of nursing home residents killed by COVID-19 in the state.
Joe Biden is seen on Sunday evening returning to the White House and asked about Cuomo
Governor Cuomo (pictured) continued to resist calls for him to resign on Friday
However Nancy Pelosi refused on Sunday to call for Cuomo’s resignation – despite claiming she has a ‘zero tolerance’ rule with sexual assault and harassment accusations.
‘The governor should look inside his heart – he loves New York – to see if he can govern effectively,’ the House speaker told ABC’s ‘This Week’.
‘What I said at the time that these revelations came forward, I said what these women have said must be treated with respect,’ she continued.
‘They are credible and serious charges, and then I called for an investigation. I have confidence in the Attorney General of New York.
‘Again, with all respect in the world for what these women have come forward and said.’
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wouldn’t call on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign on Sunday, despite claiming she has ‘no tolerance’ for sexual harassment and assault
‘No tolerance,’ she insisted when ABC News host George Stephanopoulos asked if Cuomo can still be an effective leader.
‘And this is a subject very near and dear to my heart. This is – no tolerance for sexual harassment. I’ll let the world know that.’
‘But you’re not calling on him to resign right now?’ Stephanopoulos pushed.
‘I think we should see the results of the [investigation],’ she said of the attorney general probe into the allegations.
Charlotte Bennett, 25, accused Cuomo of propositioning her in his office in June
Anna Ruch (left) and Ana Liss both accused Cuomo of inappropriate behavior
Karen Hinton (left), a press aide, and Jessica Bakeman accused Cuomo of inappropriate actions
Lindsey Boylan, a former Cuomo aide, came out in December with allegations against him – she further detailed her experience in a February post to Medium
Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York, reiterated on Sunday his call for Cuomo – a fellow Democrat, but a frequent rival – to resign.
‘I think he’ll try to hold out,’ de Blasio predicted of Cuomo during an interview on CBS News’ Face the Nation.
‘I think he is used to getting things his way, and it’s been almost an imperial governorship.
‘But I got to tell you, the folks in this state and the political leadership don’t believe him anymore. He doesn’t have any credibility.’
De Blasio continued: ‘So I think an impeachment proceeding will begin, and I think he will be impeached and perhaps right before that he’ll decide to resign. That’s probably the most likely outcome right now.
‘But I’ve got to tell you something.
‘He should resign right now because he’s holding up our effort to fight COVID. He’s literally in the way of us saving lives right now.’
On Friday, New York’s two senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and multiple members of the state’s congressional delegation, including leading liberal voice Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, called on Cuomo to step down.
Schumer and Gillibrand released a joint statement Friday afternoon, saying that their state had lost confidence in the 63-year-old.
‘Confronting and overcoming the Covid crisis requires sure and steady leadership. We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct,’ they wrote.
‘Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign.’
Both had previously said an independent investigation into the allegations against Cuomo was essential.
Shortly after the Senators’ joint statement was released, House Intelligence Chairman and California Rep. Adam Schiff also urged Cuomo to resign.
‘I don’t think he can carry on,’ Schiff told Wolf Blitzer on CNN.
Meanwhile, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapooli tweeted: ‘These allegations are extremely disturbing and are impairing Governor Cuomo’s ability to lead, as our state struggles through a crisis and must make critical budget decisions. It is time for him to step down.’
Pressure is growing on Cuomo as a seventh woman alleged sexual harassment in a first-person essay published in New York magazine on Friday.
Additionally, 30 women spoke to the same publication claiming they experienced bullying while working for the governor.
But a defiant Cuomo told reporters in a conference call Friday that he will not bow to ‘cancel culture’ by tending his resignation. He then hit out at colleagues who are calling for him to go.
A protestor sits outside the New York State Capitol on Friday demanding Cuomo resign
A group also gathered Friday to protest over the nursing home COVID scandal (pictured)
‘Politicians take positions for all sorts of reasons including political expediency and bowing to pressure,’ he stated.
‘People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture and the truth… let the review proceed.
‘I am not going to resign. I was not elected by the politicians. I was elected by the people – part of this is that I am not part of the political club and you know what, I’m proud of it.’
On Friday evening, Cuomo was seen looking strained as he paced up and down outside the Governor’s Mansion in Albany with his daughter, Mariah.
At one point, the governor draped a blanket over his shoulders as he spoke into the phone while sipping from a bottle of Saratoga Springs water.
Cuomo is pictured outside the Governor’s Mansion in Albany with his daughter on Friday
Cuomo draped a blanket around his shoulders and appeared to be in a downcast mood
What happens if Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns from office?
If Cuomo resigns Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul (pictured) would take over
As of Friday afternoon, 14 out of 19 of New York’s congressional Democrats have called for Governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignation.
They are joined by all Democrats in the NY State Senate and by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Cuomo on Friday refused to accept that he should resign despite the mounting pressure.
If he resigns Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul would take over.
She would finish Cuomo’s term until the next scheduled gubernatorial election in 2022.
Hochul is a Democrat who has served since 2015 and was a NY representative for New York’s 26th congressional district from 2011 to 2013.
She backed an investigation into allegations against Cuomo last month.
‘Everyone deserves to have their voice heard and to be taken seriously. I support an independent review,’ she said.
The last time a governor resigned was in early 2008.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer left office after he admitted to having extramarital affairs with sex workers.
When Spitzer stepped down, Lieutenant Governor David Paterson took over until 2010.
Cuomo, then Attorney General, won that election to take over from Paterson.
To date, a lieutenant governor has stepped in to carry out a gubernatorial term in New York on eight occassions, the first one taking place in 1817.
LG Hochul would also take over if Cuomo is impeached.
New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie authorized its Judiciary Committee to start an impeachment investigation into Cuomo Thursday.
The last time a NY governor was impeached was in 1913.
The process in New York is very similar to the impeachment procedure in Congress.
A simple majority in the state Assembly is required to impeach a governor.
It then goes to the state impeachment court.
A two-thirds majority of the state Senate and the justices of the New York Court of Appeals would be required to convict Cuomo and remove him from office.
The lieutenant governor takes over as acting governor while the trial plays out.