New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is facing calls to resign from the president, members of Congress, state lawmakers, and now the head of the state’s Democratic Party.
In a statement on Wednesday, New York State Democratic Committee Chair Jay Jacobs said, “The Attorney General’s exhaustive and professional investigation yielded conclusions that can only be described as extremely damning and upsetting.”
“While other Elected and Party officials immediately called for the Governor to resign, in the interests of the Party and the People of the State of New York, in an effort to effect a positive and expeditious resolution, I chose not to make a public statement. Now, however, it appears that contrary to what I have advised, the Governor may seek to prolong the current situation. I have called the Governor this afternoon to inform him of my decision to issue a statement,” he continued.
Jacobs said the “facts presented make clear that there is a preponderance of evidence of both a toxic workplace and actual sexual harassment.”
While the party chief said he could not “speak to the governor’s motivations,” he added, “The Governor has lost his ability to govern, both practically and morally. The Party and this State will not be well served by a long, protracted removal process designed only to delay what is now, clearly, inevitable.”
He went on to argue that New York “and its citizens are better off having had Andrew Cuomo as our Governor.”
However, Jacobs concluded, “It is with sadness and a measure of regret that I must ask the Governor to resign his office and allow the important work of the State — work that he did so much to advance — to continue.”
Read the statement below:
News: NYS Democratic Party Chairman @JayJacobs28 calling on @NYGovCuomo to resign:
— Morgan McKay (@morganfmckay) August 4, 2021
"I believe the allegations. I cannot speak to the Governor’s motivations. What I can say is that the Governor has lost his ability to govern, both practically and morally." pic.twitter.com/Vfq0hCnc2d
As Politico reports, Jacobs, who was chosen by Cuomo to serve as the head of the state party, is “widely viewed as more closely allied to Cuomo than nearly any of the other high-profile names that have broken with him in the past two days.”
Cuomo is facing renewed calls for his resignation after an independent investigation released by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) found that he sexually harassed several women.
He has not been criminally charged and has denied acting inappropriately.
