New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Cites “Cancel Culture” As He Refuses To Resign

It’s hard to govern when so many people are calling for you to resign, but New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is refusing to step down. The pressure is rising, even from those in his own party, after numerous media reports alleging sexual harassment and accusations his office underreported the number of nursing home deaths caused by the pandemic. In a bombshell piece published today in the New York Magazine, reporter Rebecca Traister writes: “Andrew Cuomo’s governorship has been defined by cruelty that disguised chronic mismanagement. Why was that celebrated for so long?”

Through years of ruthless tactics, deployed both within his office and against anyone he perceived as an adversary, critic, or competitor for authority, Cuomo has fostered a culture that supported harassment, cruelty, and deception. 

The New York Times adds:

Cuomo, a third-term Democrat, is now being investigated by outside lawyers overseen by the state attorney general, and is the subject of an impeachment inquiry after a series of accusations of inappropriate conduct, from unwanted sexual advances to unsolicited kisses and, this week, groping.

That groping allegation was detailed in the Albany Times-Union on Thursday:

A female aide to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo alleges he aggressively groped her in a sexually charged manner after she had been summoned to the Executive Mansion late last year, according to a person with direct knowledge of the woman’s claims.

The reports, the allegations, and the noise, it’s all become too much for many politicians who not-so-long-ago were allies to Cuomo (watch above from Good Morning America). Today veteran New York Congressman, Jerry Nadler, a member of Cuomo’s own party made it clear it was time for Cuomo to step aside saying, “Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of the people of New York. Governor Cuomo must resign.” 

New York Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman also joined Nadler, releasing their own joint statement.

Despite the growing pressure, Friday afternoon, Cuomo compared his plight to “cancel culture.” During his routine COVID call he sounded defiant as he addressed the growing backlash:

“People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture and the truth. Let the review proceed, I’m not going to resign, I was not elected by the politicians, I was elected by the people.

Cuomo’s statement was instantly mocked.