New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during a press conference in his New York City office on March 24, 2021.
Brandan McDermid | AFP | Getty Images
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s close allies and advisers are divided over whether to resign or fight a wave of sexual harassment allegations.
Jay Jacobs, chairman of the New York State Democratic Party and longtime Cuomo confidante, told CNBC late Thursday that he privately told Cuomo to resign.
Although Cuomo did not signal his resignation, Jacobs believes the governor will do so for the good of the state.
An independent report commissioned by Attorney General Letitia James said Cuomo violated state and federal laws by sexually molesting at least 11 women, including a state police officer, and retaliating against a prosecutor. President Joe Biden and other senior Democratic Party officials, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., have urged Cuomo to step down.
Prosecutors across New York, including the Manhattan District Attorney, have requested evidence from the investigation. Albany lawmakers said Thursday its investigation into the governor’s alleged actions was nearing its end.
Nonetheless, several Cuomo employees and advisors are urging the embattled governor to keep fighting, according to several people who have been briefed on the matter. Many of these people have worked with or known Cuomo for well over a decade and have remained loyal to him through several scandals.
These people described the recent conversations with Cuomo and his helpers on condition of anonymity in order to be able to speak freely.
A Cuomo spokesman did not return a request for comment. The governor rejects the allegations.
“Everything I heard until about 2 [Wednesday] In the afternoon, he was scheduled to fight his way through, “said a longtime Cuomo ally who was in contact with the governor’s closest advisers.
Another person speaking to a Cuomo adviser at a New York Yankees game on Wednesday said the adviser had conveyed that the governor plans to address the allegations.
A longtime business ally of the governor said there was a growing group of people trying to convince him to stay in office.
A Marist poll conducted after the attorney general’s report was released shows that 63% of New York registered voters believe Cuomo should step down.
The three-time governor is up for re-election next year.
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