New York Governor Andrew Cuomo listens during his announcement at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., May 11, 2021
Eduardo Munoz | Reuters
The New York state Assembly will suspend its impeachment investigation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo after his resignation takes effect on Aug. 25, Speaker Carl Heastie said on Friday.
Cuomo announced his resignation earlier this week following the release of a damning report by the New York State Attorney General’s office that found he sexually harassed at least 11 women and oversaw a hostile working environment in his office.
The state Assembly Judiciary Committee’s impeachment investigation was authorized in March after multiple sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo emerged, but Heastie said there is longer a need for it due to the governor’s resignation.
The Judiciary Committee also advised the Assembly that the state constitution does not authorize the legislature to impeach and remove an elected official who is no longer in office, Heastie added.
Cuomo announced his resignation earlier this week following the release of a damning report by the New York State Attorney General’s office that found he sexually harassed at least 11 women and oversaw a hostile working environment in his office.
However, Heastie said the committee’s work over the last several months did uncover evidence related to allegations against the governor, which “could likely have resulted in articles of impeachment had he not resigned.”
This includes evidence related to sexual harassment and misconduct, the misuse of state resources in relation to the governor’s memoir and misleading disclosure of nursing home data during the pandemic.
Heastie has asked the Judiciary Committee to turn over to “relevant investigatory authorities” all the evidence gathered during the inquiry.
The Attorney General’s office is investigating issues concerning Cuomo’s memoir, while the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York is probing his administration’s actions related to nursing home data.
Investigations into the governor’s sexual misconduct are also being carried out by local law enforcement authorities in five jurisdictions including Manhattan, Albany, Westchester, Nassau and Oswego.
“The people of this great state expect and deserve a government they can count on to always have their best interests in mind. Our government should always operate in a transparent, safe and honest manner,” Heastie said in a statement Friday.
Cuomo dodging impeachment means he still has the option of running for office again, including jumping into a future gubernatorial election.
Cuomo’s reelection campaign account had just over $18 million on hand after the first half of the year, overwhelmingly surpassing the funds of New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who will finish the remainder of the governor’s term when he steps down.
Records show Cuomo’s campaign paid over $280,000 to his attorney’s firm, Glavin PLLC, while he was under investigation by the New York state attorney general’s office.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
— CNBC’s Brian Schwartz contributed to this report.
