ALBANY — After a five-hour Zoom meeting that ended late Thursday afternoon, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has authorized the Assembly to open impeachment proceeding against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The unprecedented action — the last impeachment was in 1913 — was supported by Democrats and Republicans in Albany.
Heastie’s statement read: “I am authorizing the Assembly Judiciary Committee to begin an impeachment investigation, led by Chair Charles D. Lavine, to examine allegations of misconduct against Governor Cuomo. The reports of accusations concerning the governor are serious. The committee will have the authority to interview witnesses, subpoena documents and evaluate evidence, as is allowed by the New York State Constitution. I have the utmost faith that Assemblymember Lavine and the members of the committee will conduct an expeditious, full and thorough investigation. This inquiry will not interfere with the independent investigation being conducted by Attorney General Letitia.
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The committee’s new investigation is the second official statewide investigation into the harassment allegations. Attorney General Letitia James named two lawyers this week to lead her office’s independent investigation.
“Today’s action by the New York state legislature will have no bearing on our independent investigation into these allegations against Governor Cuomo,” James said in a statement. “Our investigation will continue.”
Gov. Cuomo has denied all accusations against him, including the latest alleged to occured in the governor’s mansion. Cuomo said he never touched anyone inappropriately and will not resign.
The latest accusation at-midweek was the sixth charge of harassment against the governor as was first reported the Time’s Union newspaper. The woman claims she was groped by Cuomo in his second story executive mansion.
Cuomo’s staunchest Democratic supporter Jay Jacobs, chairman of the state Democratic Party bailed out Thursday, saying, the latest allegation is “serious and disturbing” and agreed with the Assembly’s move to launch its own investigation.
Cuomo apology: ‘I never touched anyone inappropriately; I truly and deeply apologize’
