The head of one of New York’s largest transit unions is breaking from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) amid investigations into the state’s chief executive, including an impeachment inquiry over sexual harassment claims.
John Samuelsen, international president of the Transport Workers Union (TWU), told the New York Post that he is “over him,” referring to Cuomo, and revealed that he did not go to a recent fundraiser for the governor, one in which almost every other top labor leader in New York attended.
The TWU represents 48,562 subway and bus workers in New York, according to the Post. It is reportedly one of the state’s largest transit unions.
The group supported Cuomo in his 2018 reelection campaign against Cynthia Nixon.
Samuelsen said he is “absolutely” considering an alternative to Cuomo, who is up for reelection in 2022. He also said the governor is a dishonest broker.
“Am I considering an alternative to Cuomo for governor? Absolutely. Definitely,” Samuelsen told the newspaper.
“We are not going to continue to support dishonest brokers — and Cuomo is one. I’m not going to support a guy who doesn’t support my members.”
Cuomo is currently the subject of a number of investigations in New York, probing accusations of sexual harassment and allegations related to his administration’s handling of data on coronavirus deaths in nursing homes.
The governor has denied any wrongdoing and has since apologized for interactions that “may have been insensitive or too personal” and for comments that “made others feel in ways I never intended.”
Federal investigators are also looking into whether Cuomo misused state resources to pen his memoir, titled “American Crisis,” which brought in $5.1 million, according to the Post.
Additionally, the governor is the subject of an investigation led by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) that is looking into allegations of sexual misconduct.
Samuelsen said if James finds Cuomo guilty of the allegations against him, his support among trade unions will “evaporate.”
“If Cuomo is found guilty in the report, you will see the trade unions start pulling away from him. No doubt about it. If the report demonstrates Cuomo violated workplace laws regarding sexual harassment, he should go [resign]. You’ll see his support evaporate if there are findings of guilt,” Samuelsen told the Post.
Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo’s senior adviser and director of communications, responded to Samuelsen’s comments on Twitter, calling the union boss “an extortionist.”
“Sameulson is an extortionist who is trying to undo pension reform. We also understand he is a political supporter of Tish James and she says she may run against the governor, and he wants more benefits in his contract. Everyone gets that,” Azzopardi wrote.
Samuelsen responded, calling the statement “laughable.”
“.@NYGovCuomo alleging anyone but himself is an extortionist is laughable. Just ask NYS County Executives about the convos tying vaccine distribution to pledges of political support for Cuomo, amid the twin Nursing Home and Sexual Misconduct debacles,” he wrote.
Samuelsen also slammed Cuomo for his plans to split the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s top position into two posts and use nonunion labor at the Grand Central Terminal, in addition to the governor’s response to claims in 2019 that the Long Island Rail Road was involved in overtime abuse and fraud.