WASHINGTON (1010 WINS) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday weighed in on Andrew Cuomo’s work as governor of New York, hours after the embattled Democrat announced his resignation.
Following a news conference on the passage of his infrastructure bill in the Senate, President Biden was asked by CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe to assess Cuomo’s nearly 11 years as governor of the state.
Biden responded by saying he thought Cuomo did a “hell of a job” as governor.
“Everything from access to voting to infrastructure, the whole range of things. That’s why it’s so sad,” Biden said of Cuomo’s resignation.
On Tuesday morning, Cuomo announced he would be resigning from office in two weeks amid an ongoing sexual harassment scandal.
While the governor said he never intended any harm to the women that have accused him of misconduct, he says fighting the accusations and remaining in office would be “politically motivated.”
Before ending the news conference, Biden was asked why he would say Cuomo did a “hell of a job” given the sexual harassment charges against him.
Though, the president made it clear that his answer was directed at the specific question.
“’Should he remain as governor’ is one question – and women should be believed when they make accusations,” the president said. “The question was ‘Did he do a good job in infrastructure?’ That was a question. He did.”
Biden’s comments came shortly after White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Biden had not spoken to Cuomo before his resignation and Cuomo did not give the administration advance notice.
Psaki had said that the Biden administration believes Cuomo’s decision to step down was the right move.
“The president made clear his views last week and those stand,” she said.
While Biden and Cuomo had been close allies in the past, the president did call for Cuomo to step down last week after Attorney General Letitia James announced her office had found evidence of sexual harassment directed towards multiple women.
Psaki says that the White House supports those women who came forward over the last few months to have their stories heard.
“Our view is that this is a story about these courageous women who came forward, told their stories, shared their stories and an investigation overseen by the Attorney General that, of course, concluded today in an outcome that the president called for just last week,” the White House press secretary said.
Biden has not yet spoken with Kathy Hochul, who is set to become the first female governor of New York State in two weeks.
Psaki says Biden is looking forward to working with her.
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