Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine announced Monday that the panel will continue to review evidence and issue a final report on its investigation of outgoing Governor Andrew Cuomo.
In doing so, Heastie and Lavine said in a joint statement, the Judiciary Committee will take all appropriate steps to ensure that this effort does not interfere with various ongoing investigations.
Cuomo — who announced his resignation on Aug. 10 as a result of the sexual misconduct scandal in which he’s embroiled — and his administration are also being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s office on the reporting of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, and state Attorney General Letitia James about Cuomo’s $5 million pandemic memoir.
Moreover, five district attorneys in New York — in Manhattan as well as Albany, Nassau, Oswego and Westchester Counties — are also examining evidence in James’ investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against Cuomo regarding possible criminal charges.
James’ independent report, which triggered Cuomo’s resignation, substantiated allegations from 11 women of sexual harassment and having a toxic workplace, particularly towards women.
Monday’s announcement comes just days after Heastie announced the assembly will suspend their impeachment investigation of Cuomo in light of his promise to step down from office over sexual harassment complaints.
The joint statement from Heastie and Lavine did not indicate how soon the investigation would be completed, and when the report would be issued.
Heastie said the impeachment inquiry was no longer needed since its purpose was “to determine whether Governor Cuomo should remain in office.”
He also said the decision was also made after legal counsel advised his office that the state’s constitution does not allow the legislature to impeach an elected official who is no longer in office.
But a number of lawmakers in Albany note the state constitution does not explicitly address such a scenario, and want to see the impeachment move forward so that if convicted in both chambers he will never be allowed to run for state office again.
Other lawmakers believe at the very least the Assembly Judiciary Committee must move forward with at least a final report.
“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,” said Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (D-Manhattan).
“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,” she added.
Cuomo’s resignation takes effect next Tuesday, Aug. 24, when Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will take the oath of office as the 57th governor of the state — and first woman ever to occupy the office.
