63 percent of New York voters say Cuomo should resign: poll

Sixty-three percent of registered voters in New York think Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) should resign after an independent investigation found he sexually harassed almost a dozen women and broke state and federal law, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The Marist University poll shows that only 29 percent of registered voters say Cuomo should serve out the remainder of his term. Support for his resignation is bipartisan, with 52 percent of Democrats and 77 percent of Republicans saying he should step down. 

Fifty-nine percent of registered voters also say he should be impeached, including 48 percent of Democrats and 80 percent of Republicans.

The poll was conducted Tuesday evening after state Attorney General Letitia James (D) released a report from an independent inquiry showing that Cuomo sexually harassed several women, including some who worked in his office, and violated state and federal laws. He and his staff also retaliated against at least one woman who came forward with her allegations, the investigation found.

The investigators spoke with 179 people as part of the probe, including 11 complainants, current and former members of the executive chamber and more, and reviewed 74,000 pieces of evidence.

“These interviews and pieces of evidence reveal a deeply disturbing, yet clear picture: Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed current and former state employees in violation of both federal and state laws. The independent investigation found that Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, many of whom were young women, by engaging in unwanted groping, kisses, hugging and by making inappropriate comments,” James said at a press conference Tuesday morning.

Her office launched the investigation in March after several women accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct, including groping, unwanted kissing and inappropriate comments in the workplace.

The report’s release opened the floodgates to further calls for Cuomo’s resignation or impeachment, though the three-term governor later refused to step down from office. 

“The facts are much different than what has been portrayed,” Cuomo said in recorded remarks Tuesday.

“First, I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances. 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.”

The Marist University poll surveyed 542 registered voters Tuesday evening and has a margin of error of 5.5 percentage points.