Biden says that New York Gov. Cuomo should resign if investigation proves sexual harassment claims
Patrick Semansky/AP
- Biden said that NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign if an investigation proves claims of sexual harassment.
- "I think he'll probably end up being prosecuted, too," President Joe Biden told ABC News.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
In a new interview with ABC News's George Stephanopoulos, President Joe Biden said that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign if an investigation supports sexual harassment claims made by more than six women.
"If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?" Stephanopoulos asks Biden in a newly released clip of the interview, which will air in full on Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. ET.
"Yes," Biden says. "I think he'll probably end up being prosecuted, too."
-ABC News (@ABC) March 17, 2021
Biden added: "A woman should be presumed to telling the truth, and should not be scapegoated and be victimized for coming forward."
On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York doubled down on calls for Cuomo to resign, after he and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand had made the call late last week.
Calls for Cuomo's resignation grew after at least six women came forward accusing the New York governor of sexual misconduct in the workplace. New York lawmakers, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jerry Nadler and Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand, were among those demanding that Cuomo resign.
The New York governor denied the allegations from the women but apologized for upsetting them.
"I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable, and I truly and deeply apologize for it," Cuomo said during a press conference earlier this month. "And frankly, I am embarrassed by it. And that's not easy to say, but that's the truth."
"I understand sensitivities have changed. Behavior has changed," Cuomo added. "I get it and I'm going to learn from it."
Cuomo also pushed back on demands for his resignation, saying him stepping down would be "anti-democratic" and that lawmakers calling for his resignation are "bowing to cancel culture."
"I apologized several days ago. I apologized today," Cuomo said when confirming to reporters that he has no intention to resign. "I will apologize tomorrow. I will apologize the day after. And I want New Yorkers to understand, because the facts will come out in the attorney general's review, but I want them to understand the emotion."
Last Thursday, the New York Democrats authorized an impeachment investigation in light of the accusations. The probe will be led by the New York Assembly Judiciary Committee.
"The reports of accusations concerning the governor are serious," New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said in the announcement.
In late February, Biden had indicated support for an "independent review" into sexual harassment allegations against the New York governor, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
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