ALBANY – For the first time since being accused of inappropriate behavior toward two former female staffers and a third claim that he touched a woman he had just met, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Wednesday, offered his apologies and said he has no intention of stepping down from office.
He told a news conference that he did not mean to offend or hurt anyone and explained his touching as part of his makeup noting he has hugged and kissed hundreds of people, just as his father, former Governor Mario Cuomo did.
The current governor said he has no plans to resign as many fellow Democrats and Republicans have called for him to do.
“I wasn’t elected by politicians; I was elected by the people of the State of New York. I’m not going to resign. I work for the people of the state of New York; they elected me and I am going to serve he people of the state of New York,” he said.
Among those calling for his resignation are two Mid-Hudson Valley state senators, Democrat James Skoufis and Republican Michael Martucci.
Cuomo urged the public to wait for the facts to come out following an investigation by the state attorney general before making any judgments.
But, Skoufis said Wednesday he does not have to wait for the AG’s investigation to conclude. “I have seen sufficient evidence to conclude that, beyond a reasonable doubt, the governor’s behavior represents a pattern of abuse that deems him unfit for office. Governor Cuomo must resign.”
Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther a Democrat and long-time ally of the governor, called him out. “As the mother of two girls and grandmother of five girls, it is impossible for me to tolerate the Governor’s behavior. It is not acceptable. Anyone experiencing harassment should be empowered to speak out. The time has come for the Governor to resign,” she said.
