Journalist Zaid Jilani says that it is possible for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who announced his resignation on Tuesday, to be arrested and prosecuted over his alleged sexual harassment of women.
Jilani joined Hill TV’s Rising to discuss Brittany Commisso, a former assistant who has accused Cuomo of sexually harassing her, filing a criminal complaint with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office in the wake of a report from the state attorney general’s office that said the governor had sexual harassed 11 women as well as broken state and federal laws.
Commisso’s complaint was followed by the resignation of Melissa de Rosa, who was Cuomo’s top aide.
“There is actually a possibility that Governor Cuomo could be arrested and prosecuted,” Jilani said. “I mean this this is, this is a serious territory for Cuomo, someone who I think believed himself to be basically invincible when it comes to this issue. And his family has certainly been heralded in New York as almost royalty.”
Jilani further said there is precedent for governors to be prosecuted, pointing to the convictions of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R). McDonnell would later have the charges dropped against him.
“You know it is something that can happen even to a high official,” Jilani said. “I do think if I was Cuomo, I’d feel — be feeling the heat now.”
Cuomo announced on Tuesday that he will step down, though he continued to deny any wrongdoing.
Watch the interview above.
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