NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — In a major reversal, State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced Monday the judiciary committee's investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo's alleged misconduct will continue and a final report of their findings will be made available.
"The Assembly Judiciary Committee will continue to review evidence and issue a final report on its investigation of Governor Cuomo," Heastie said. "In doing so, the committee will take all appropriate steps to ensure that this effort does not interfere with various ongoing investigations by the United States Attorney concerning nursing home data; the attorney general concerning the governor's memoir; and local law enforcement authorities in five jurisdictions – Manhattan, Albany, Westchester, Nassau and Oswego – regarding possible criminal incidents of sexual misconduct."
Heastie's announcement comes days after he announced Friday that the committee's impeachment probe was suspended — which received bipartisan condemnation.
“A job resignation does not equate to accountability,” Republican Minority Leader Will Barclay said in a statement on Friday. “Additionally, impeaching Andrew Cuomo means he would be prohibited from holding public office ever again in New York state.”
"Starting next week, Cuomo will start claiming his innocence by saying the Assembly won’t impeach him because he didn’t do anything wrong," Democratic Assembly Member Ron Kim said Friday. "He will play the victim while attacking 11 courageous women who spoke up. We can’t allow this to happen."
Democratic Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright also argued Monday for the need to hold Cuomo accountable.
"As I stated last week following Governor Cuomo’s announcement of his intention to resign, there must be a comprehensive and publicly available report prepared by the Assembly Judiciary Committee detailing its findings, recommendations as well as referrals to appropriate law enforcement agencies," she said. "We owe this to the eleven brave women whose stories of gubernatorial misconduct were detailed in the devastating report of the NYS Attorney General. We owe this to the taxpayers of New York who are entitled to restitution of improperly utilized state resources. We owe a full accounting to the people of New York, to help serve as the basis for assuring that new safeguards going forward are subsequently adopted. There are far too many unanswered questions that need addressing in the public record."
Cuomo's resignation is set to take effect on Aug. 25.