NYS Assembly Will Not Pursue Impeachment of Gov. Cuomo
It looks like New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will not be adding “impeached” to his legacy after the Speaker of the New York State Assembly said the house will not continue impeachment proceedings.
Carl Heastie said Friday, August 13 the impeachment proceedings will be called off as legal advisors said the state constitution does not authorize the legislature to impeach and remove an elected official who is no longer in office. Cuomo is still in office until August 24 but the Democrat-led Assembly did not appear ready to move into high speed to impeach the fellow Democrat before he steps down.
Cuomo announced his upcoming resignation on Tuesday, August 10, days after he faced increasing pressure to resign or face ouster by the Democratic-controlled Legislature.
The state attorney general a week earlier released an independent investigation that found Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women.
The decision announced by Heastie to drop the impeachment proceedings is especially not sitting well with Republicans, many of whom say they want the three-term Governor impeached so he could not seek political office in New York in the future.
The Associated Press reports a woman who has accused New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of inappropriate behavior has added her voice to those criticizing state lawmakers for not pushing forward with impeachment proceedings.
In a tweet August 15, Charlotte Bennett says Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie's decision to end the probe sends a message that sexual harassment is acceptable.
Bennett was a health policy adviser in Cuomo's administration until last November.
In February, Bennett said Cuomo asked her inappropriate questions about her sex life, including whether she ever had sex with older men.
Cuomo has said he never made advances toward her and never intended to be inappropriate.