Schumer, Gillibrand join call for Cuomo to step down

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks at a vaccination site in New York on March 8. | Seth Wenig, Pool, File/AP Photo

ALBANY — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand joined more than a dozen Democratic members of the state’s congressional delegation Friday calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign.

The third-term Democrat is rapidly losing support in his own party amid allegations of sexual harassment, inappropriate workplace behavior and a cover-up of nursing home deaths, but said Friday he has no intentions of stepping down.

The senators, who had not been quick to ask for the governor’s exit, said in a late-Friday statement that “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.”

“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 added. “Governor Cuomo should resign.”

Cuomo said Friday that the opinion of his fellow elected Democrats would not be a factor in his plans.

“Politicians who don’t know a single fact, but yet form a conclusion and an opinion are, in my opinion, reckless and dangerous,” he said in a conference call. “The people of New York should not have confidence in a politician who takes a position without knowing any facts or substance. That, my friends, is politics at its worst.”

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