cuomo
New York (77WABC) – New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced Friday that the Assembly will suspend its impeachment investigation into Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“There are two reasons for this decision. First, the purpose of the Assembly Judiciary Committee’s impeachment investigation was to determine whether Governor Cuomo should remain in office,” Heastie said in a statement. “The governor’s resignation answers that directive.”
“Second, we have been advised by Chair Lavine – with the assistance of counsel – of the belief that the constitution does not authorize the legislature to impeach and remove an elected official who is no longer in office,” Heastie added.
The impeachment probe was started after an independent report from state Attorney General Letitia James found 11 instances of sexual harassment by Cuomo against current and former state employees. The investigation was also going to look into Cuomo’s misuse of state resources in relation to his memoir as well as improper and misleading disclosure of nursing home data during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heastie said if the investigation went through, articles of impeachment would have been likely for the disgraced governor.
“Let me be clear – the committee’s work over the last several months, although not complete, did uncover credible evidence in relation to allegations that have been made in reference to the governor,” Heastie said. “Underscoring the depth of this investigation, this evidence concerned not only sexual harassment and misconduct but also the misuse of state resources in relation to the publication of the governor’s memoir as well as improper and misleading disclosure of nursing home data during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
