Andrew Cuomo appears to play down Joe Biden’s comments about stepping down as NY governor
‘What President Biden said was, there should be a review … I agree with him on that,’ Mr Cuomo says
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Your support makes all the difference.New York Governor Andrew Cuomo appeared to play down President Joe Biden’s comments about the allegations against him and if he should step down while on a phone call with reporters on Wednesday.
“If you committed a crime you can be prosecuted. That’s true,” Mr Cuomo said when asked about the recent statements from the president. “But what President Biden said was, there should be a review … I agree with him on that. The people of New York agree with him on that.”
But that wasn’t exactly what Mr Biden said when speaking to ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday evening.
Mr Stephanopoulos asked the president if the governor should step down if the investigation confirmed the allegations. “Yes,” Mr Biden said.
“I think he’ll probably end up being prosecuted, too,” Mr Biden added.
But when asked about the comments on Wednesday, Mr Cuomo said the president only called for a “review” into the allegations against him and did not call for him to be prosecuted if the investigation confirmed what the women said happened.
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Mr Biden’s statement was the strongest he’s come out against the Democratic governor since several women have accused Mr Cuomo of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct.
“A woman should be presumed telling the truth and should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forward,” the president added. “Takes a lot of courage to come forward. So, the presumption is they should be taken seriously. And it should be investigated. And that’s what’s underway now.”
During the conference call, Mr Cuomo was also specifically asked about the sexual assault allegations he currently faces, including one from former aide Charlotte Bennettt, 25.
“The Assembly announced a law firm to conduct their review,” he said, dodging the question.
“I’m not going to take any questions or have any comments on the review. At this time, let the lawyers do the job and let them conduct the review,” he continued.
Allegations from Ms Bennett include the governor, 63, allegedly asking the aide if she had ever been with an older man and him informing her that he’s previously entered into relationships with younger women.
Mr Cuomo was also asked why his administration leaked personnel documents related to another accuser, former aide Lindsey Boylan, in an effort to discredit her credibility among the public.
“That is — Ms Boylan is one of the issues that is going to be reviewed by the Assembly and the attorney general, and I want them to do their review and let them determine the facts. And then we’ll take it from there. Right?” he said. “So let’s find out the facts and then we can have an opinion and comment on the facts, once we know the facts. But I’m not going to comment, until those reviews are finished, on any specific issue,” he continued.
The governor returned to business as usual this week amid allegations against his conduct and several prominent Democrats calling for him to resign from office.
He justified his return to work and refusal to resign because a recent poll from Siena College found 50 per cent of New York voters did not want him to resign. Only 35 per cent of those polled said he should resign immediately, according to the poll.
“I have a job to do. They want me to do this job, they’re concerned about Covid, concerned by vaccines,” Mr Cuomo told reporters when referencing the poll. “They’re concerned about re-openings and they believe in due process, that allegations are not guilt. So, figure out the facts before you make a conclusion — and that’s also common sense,” he added.
As for the 35 per cent who wanted him to leave, Mr Cuomo said “there’s always been 35 percent on the political spectrum” who opposed his administration.
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