NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The New York State Assembly will suspend its impeachment probe into the sexual harassment allegations lodged against Gov. Andrew Cuomo when his resignation takes effect in two weeks, House Speaker Carl Heastie said Friday.
The investigation will be suspended when Cuomo steps down on Aug. 25, Heastie said in a statement Friday afternoon.
“There are two reasons for this decision. First, the purpose of the Assembly Judiciary Committee’s impeachment investigation was to determine whether Gov. Cuomo should remain in office. The governor’s resignation answers that directive,” he said.
“Second, we have been advised by [Assembly Judiciary Committee] Chair [Charles] 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,” he added.
The probe will be suspended despite the fact that the committee did “uncover credible evidence in relation to allegations that have been made in reference to the governor,” Heastie noted.
“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,” he said. “This evidence — we believe — could likely have resulted in articles of impeachment had he not resigned.”
Lavine will turn the evidence over to local authorities that have launched their own probes into the allegations, the speaker added.
“As I have said, this has been a tragic chapter in our state’s history,” he went on to say. “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.”
In a statement released after Heastie's announcement, Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt maintained the decision to suspend the probe "reeks of a shady deal to protect Andrew Cuomo."
"At any point in the last six months, Democrats could have impeached our now disgraced governor — but that would've required courage," he said. "Instead, they stalled and bought Andrew Cuomo all the time in the world, while they wasted millions of taxpayer dollars on their sham investigation."
"Resignation is not accountability," he added. "The Democrats not only failed in their constitutional responsibilities — they failed the Governor's countless victims in nursing homes, brave women who came forward to tell their stories, and those who believe in honest and transparent government."
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