Nancy Pelosi calls on NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign after sexual harassment allegations

The recent investigation that confirmed the allegations of sexual harassment made against Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has led to many figures calling for his resignation. This also includes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who is also a longtime family friend of the Cuomos.

Pelosi’s office released a statement weighing in on the results of the investigation led by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The probe found Cuomo to have sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo has repeatedly denied the accusations.

In the announcement of the results of the investigation, James revealed that Cuomo and his senior team created a hostile workplace for women. According to James, the evidence made clear that Cuomo sexually harassed his female employees, many of whom were young women. Following the announcement, the Democratic members of the New York state legislature held a meeting to discuss the possibility of impeachment should Cuomo refuse to resign.

“Under Attorney General Letitia James, a comprehensive and independent investigation into the allegations made against Governor Cuomo has been completed,” said Pelosi in the statement. “As always, I commend the women who came forward to speak their truth. Recognizing his love of New York and the respect for the office he holds, I call upon the Governor to resign.”

To note, the Pelosi and Cuomo families share a 40-year friendship. Andrew Cuomo’s father Mario Cuomo endorsed Pelosi to be the chair of the Democratic National Committee back in 1984 when Mario Cuomo was the New York Governor. Pelosi and Mario Cuomo traveled to Italy following the 1980 earthquake, and Pelosi invited Matilda Cuomo, Andrew Cuomo’s mother, to the address of Pope Francis in 2015.

Previously, Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s relationship once again reached another low, as McCarthy came under fire for his “joke” of assaulting Pelosi with the gavel should he become House Speaker in 2022. This has angered many Democratic lawmakers, calling on McCarthy to either resign or issue an apology to Pelosi. They pointed out that McCarthy made the “joke” six months after Pelosi’s life was threatened on January 6.

“Threatening violence against the Speaker of the House is no joke,” said New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “This is the kind of reckless language that led to a violent insurrection.”