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ALBANY – New York State Senator George Borrello says Governor Cuomo’s style of leadership is causing problems not just in Albany but statewide, and that’s why the executive should resign.
Borrello, speaking with WNY News Now on Tuesday morning, says a ‘toxic environment’ in Albany is boiling over with Cuomo’s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes and now several accusations of sexual harassment.
The Senator says Cuomo should step aside not because of political pressure, but because it’s the right thing to do, since the state is still battling with health and economic impacts of the pandemic.
“This is not just about the sexual harassment claims, those are serious and those need to be investigated, but it is the buildup of the coverup of nursing home deaths and the manipulation of the data, the intimidation and threats to legislators, the Governor made calls as latest as Sunday night to legislators trying to influence them, I’m actually dealing with today some legislative issues created by his office,” said Borrello. “It’s this toxic environment, it is not good leadership but it has now made his style of leadership not effective.”
Cuomo pledged not to resign, even hinting that he would have to be impeached something some lawmakers are considering.
Republican lawmakers in the New York State Assembly announced Monday they would introduce a resolution calling for the impeachment of the Governor.
Once the resolution is introduced, the bill would be referred to an Assembly committee that will look into the resolution. If the committee agrees to proceed with impeachment, the resolution would be voted on by the entire Assembly. A majority vote would result in impeachment.
Like an impeachment at the federal level, a state-level impeachment is an accusation of wrongdoing, similar to an indictment in a criminal case. Still, there is a big difference between the New York and the federal Constitutions. While presidents remain on the job following their impeachment and during the trial in the Senate, that’s not how it works in New York.
Should Cuomo be impeached, he would not serve as governor while awaiting or standing trial. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul would act as governor during that time.
If Cuomo is acquitted, he would return to his job, and Hochul would return to her role. Should he be convicted, he would be removed from office, and Hochul would complete his term.
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