Republican lawmakers in the New York State Assembly announced the impeachment resolution against Governor Andrew Cuomo, reports Syracuse
Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay and other lawmakers of the Assembly Republican Conference announced the resolution today. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, said today his GOP colleagues can’t compel the Democratically-controlled Assembly to take the step.
“But we’re going to keep pounding on this issue,” Republican leader and lawmaker said during the press conference.
Democrats are after Cuomo too
More than 30 lawmakers of Democratic party have already called on Cuomo. They demand him to resign as he faces a federal inquiry about Covid-19 nursing home data and assertions of sexual harassment in the workplace. That includes a resignation call from Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the top Democrat to call for Cuomo to resign.
According to a former Cuomo assistant, the state miscommunicated about the number of deaths because telling the true numbers would help former President Donald Trump win reelection in 2020. Republicans had slurred the Democratic Party for their role in coronavirus throughout the campaign. They gave more attention to Cuomo’s decision to compel old-age coronavirus patients to stay in nursing homes.
“If they really believe in resignation, why not start impeachment?” Barclay said in a press conference today.
Impeachment resolution proceedings
Cuomo on Sunday said he would not step down.
Impeachment resolution proceedings against Cuomo needs a majority vote from the Assembly’s 150 members. That doesn’t possibly happen unless a majority of Democratic Assembly members support the move.
Earlier today, about 20 Democratic women including Assemblywoman Pam Hunter, D-Syracuse, signed a statement that Attorney General Letitia James should investigate the claims against Cuomo.
Barclay said today the claims of untoward conduct are one of many issues weakening the governor’s credibility.
Cuomo is also going through a federal inquiry into his handling of data about Covid-19 nursing home deaths.
Cuomo and his staff have turned down any wrongdoing, both in the harassment allegations and managing the nursing home data. He has said he often hugs and kisses people in cordial greetings.
He said his conversation with staffers about their intimate relationships was meant to be crosstalk, not intimidation. But those explanations aren’t sufficient for lawmakers like Barclay.
“The real problem now is the governor has lost so much credibility and trust that we don’t feel like he can go forward and governor,” Barclay said.
