The New York state Senate majority leader says Governor Andrew Cuomo ‘must resign’ after Sunday’s allegations from former staff members of sexual harassment and a toxic work environment.
During the pandemic, Cuomo was praised as an exemplary representative, and was one of the figureheads of the pandemic response. However, Cuomo fell from this position of praise as allegations came from former employees.
Problems are piling up for Cuomo on the pandemic front as well. There are issues over how his administration filed nursing home deaths and how Covid patients were moved between nursing homes and hospitals, and the way they were reported on. There is an ongoing federal investigation into the issue and this week Democrats moved to strip him of unilateral emergency power granted during Covid-19.
Five women, four of whom worked for Cuomo, have spoken publicly about the inappropriate conduct from him. One claims she was summoned to a hotel after a work event and was hugged for an uncomfortable period of time and expresses her concerns over the “power dynamic” at play for “manipulation and control”. Cuomo and others have dismissed her claims as false due to her being a long-time adversary of Cuomo’s.
Former aides are speaking of the toxic workplace experienced working for the governor. Two male aides say he routinely berated them with explicit language.
Stewart-Cousins shared a statement expressing there’s “many challenges to address” and “it is time for the governor to seriously consider whether he can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York.”
Despite the increasing pressure on Cuomo to resign, sources claim he has no plans to step down, and on March 3rd he said he will continue to serve the people of New York.
Written by Jessica Craighill
Artwork by Zara Masood
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