NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — As New York lawmakers look to navigate the impeachment process following a damning report which concluded Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, they won't find a lot of historical guidance.
Only once in New York state's 233-year history has a governor been impeached. William Sulzer was accused of using campaign money for personal purposes back in 1913.
"Right now, the standards are pretty open," said former New York State Sen. Michael Balboni who has studied the subject extensively.
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He tells WCBS 880's Steve Burns that the state constitution is fairly vague on the grounds for impeachment.
"The standard itself is not like the federal standard of high crimes and misdemeanors. It really talks about malfeasance," Balboni said.
To get the ball rolling, state Assembly members first need to draw up articles of impeachment.
Once that's done, the state Assembly can vote to impeach with a simple majority.
"And then of course it goes to the Senate, it's called the High Court of Impeachment and it consists of all sitting state senators, except for the majority leader. And then the seven members of the Court of Appeals with the chief justice residing," Balboni said.
During the trial, the governor is stripped of his powers and the lieutenant governor takes over in an acting capacity.
The governor would be convicted with a two-thirds vote.
"A impeachment court is not a court of law. It is a political court," Balboni said. "The standards are so broad and so vague that impeachment could be seen as a very political tool."
An Associated Press report Wednesday found a majority of state Assembly members support beginning impeachment proceedings against the third-term governor if he doesn't resign over the findings of the attorney general's sexual harassment probe.
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