Curtains for Cuomo?
| EDITOR'S NOTE
Hello,
This is CNBC politics reporter Kevin Breuninger, in for editor Mike Calia.
President Biden just called on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign amid a sexual harassment scandal, heaping even more pressure on the defiant governor just hours after the release of a damning report on his conduct.
After five months of independent investigation, the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James this morning released its final report on a raft of sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo.
It doesn't mince words.
The governor's conduct toward at least 11 accusers constituted sexual harassment under state and federal law, the probe found. Cuomo engaged in "unwelcome and nonconsensual touching," flung sexually charged remarks that created a "hostile work environment for women" and led an office culture "filled with fear and intimidation," the report says.
What witnesses described was "not just old-fashioned, affectionate behavior, it was sexual harassment," according to the report.
Cuomo had already beat back waves of criticism and calls for his resignation – including from dozens of his fellow Democrats – in prior months, vowing not to resign and castigating his critics as "reckless" for airing allegations that had yet to be vetted.
But Tuesday's release moved some key Democratic holdouts to speak out against the embattled governor. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul – who would succeed Cuomo if he were to step down – said she believes his accusers. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after months of resisting pressure to do so, for the first time called on Cuomo to resign.
By far the biggest name to come out of the woodwork: Biden, who said in March that Cuomo should resign if the claims against him are confirmed.
"I stand by that statement," Biden said Tuesday. Asked directly whether that means he believes Cuomo should resign, Biden replied: "Yes."
So far, Cuomo isn't backing down. In the wake of the damning report, the governor cut a video denying some of its key allegations.
"The facts are much different than what has been portrayed," he said.
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