Lieutenant governor breaks with Cuomo over ‘repulsive’ behavior

New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) broke with Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Monday after a report from the state attorney general’s office was released that found he had sexually harassed multiple women, including some who worked in his administration.

Hochul on Twitter condemned the “repulsive & unlawful” behavior detailed in the report. She refrained from calling for Cuomo’s resignation, citing her position as next in line for the governorship if he were to step down.

“Sexual harassment is unacceptable in any workplace, and certainly not in public service,” Hochul tweeted. “The AG’s investigation has documented repulsive & unlawful behavior by the Governor towards multiple women. I believe these brave women & admire their courage coming forward.”

“No one is above the law. Under the New York Constitution, the Assembly will now determine the next steps,” she added.

No one is above the law. Under the New York Constitution, the Assembly will now determine the next steps.

Because Lieutenant Governors stand next in the line of succession, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the process at this moment. 2/2

— Kathy Hochul (@LtGovHochulNY) August 3, 2021

A slew of New York officials and outside organizations have called for Cuomo to step down, including the entire Democratic New York congressional delegation. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) called for Cuomo to either resign or to be impeached in the wake of the report’s findings.

Cuomo remained defiant on Tuesday, refusing to resign.

“I am 63 years old. I have lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just not who I am, and that’s not who I have ever been,” he said in an address following the report’s release.

“They read into comments that I made and draw inferences that I never meant. They ascribe motives I never had. And simply put, they heard things that I just didn’t say,” Cuomo said, regarding allegations from some of the female aides who have accused him of inappropriate conduct.