the-latest-on-the-impeachment-investigation-into-new-york-gov.-cuomo

The latest on the impeachment investigation into New York Gov. Cuomo

Politics
8 min ago

Key things to know about New York’s impeachment process — and how Gov. Cuomo’s trial could unfold 

From CNN’s Paul LeBlanc

Members of the New York Assembly debate budget bills at the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 7.
Members of the New York Assembly debate budget bills at the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 7. (Hans Pennink/AP)

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resistance to leaving office after a damning investigation from the New York attorney general’s office has prompted renewed calls for his impeachment across the state.

The investigation conducted by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office found that Cuomo, a Democrat, engaged in “unwelcome and nonconsensual touching” and made comments of a “suggestive” sexual nature.

New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who launched an impeachment inquiry against Cuomo in March, said Monday that the impeachment investigation process into the governor could wrap within weeks. “You want to make sure things are right, but also done in an expeditious manner,” he said.

Heastie also reiterated his own comments from last week – that Assembly members have “no confidence in the ability of the governor to remain in office.”

Here are key things to know about New York’s impeachment process and how Cuomo’s trial could unfold:

The New York State Assembly is tasked with carrying out the vote to impeach Cuomo, according to the New York State Constitution. The Assembly, which is made up of 150 lawmakers, needs only a majority vote to impeach for what the Constitution calls “misconduct or malversation.”

The New York Assembly is overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats, with the party holding 106 of the 150 seats. Seventy-six votes are needed to impeach Cuomo.

If the Assembly votes to impeach, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat from Buffalo, becomes governor, stripping Cuomo of his decision-making abilities.

Cuomo would then go to a trial, held by the New York Senate, which would be made up of the senators and the judges of the court of appeals, according the state Constitution. Hochul would not be part of the trial, the Constitution says. Cuomo would need to be found guilty by two-thirds of the state Senate. Democrats hold 43 of the 63 seats in the legislative chamber.

Could Cuomo be removed from office?

If convicted, the punishment would be removal from office, the Constitution states. If Cuomo makes it through the impeachment process and is acquitted, he goes right back to being governor. He gets his position back with all the powers that come with it.

“Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, or removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any public office of honor, trust, or profit under this state; but the party impeached shall be liable to indictment and punishment according to law,” reads the Constitution.

What’s the status of the impeachment inquiry?

The impeachment investigation launched by the New York State Assembly’s in March is ongoing.

A Democratic state assembly member who sits on the Judiciary Committee — which would draft the articles of impeachment — told CNN that they would meet on Monday with their lawyers to discuss the impeachment process.

The Judiciary Committee has been investigating Cuomo in four areas: the sexual harassment allegations, deaths in nursing homes from Covid-19, usurping state resources for personal gain, and allegations of a cover up over damaged bridge bolts on the Mario Cuomo Bridge.

New York Assembly Judiciary committee chair Charles Lavine said the committee will hold hearings this month to make its recommendation on whether to move forward with impeachment. Lavine said he expects the process to conclude “very soon,” meaning in “several weeks.”

What is Cuomo saying? Cuomo has continued to insist he did nothing wrong and made no indication in remarks on Tuesday that he will step down.

But the public outcry from Democrats amounts to the most serious challenge yet to his 11-year grip on New York state politics, and it was far from certain on Tuesday afternoon that he would be able to withstand the pressure to leave office.

CNN’s Lauren del Valle, Paul P. Murphy, Dan Merica and Mark Morales contributed to this report.

29 min ago

Cuomo was in a “fighting mood” over the weekend, even as aides tell him to resign, sources say

From CNN’s Mark Morales, MJ Lee, and Gregory Krieg

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference on Monday, May 10, in New York.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference on Monday, May 10, in New York. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s closest confidants spent all weekend trying to convince him that he needs to resign, and there was a big effort to get him to step down, sources tell CNN. 

The governor can’t come to grips with the end of his time in office, telling his inner circle “I need more time,” a source said. 

Another source in close touch with Cuomo’s close advisers said that as of the end of last week, “no one in his inner circle of friends or staff” believed Cuomo was going to survive. 

There’s consensus among those around Cuomo that he has to resign or be impeached, but “he’s the only one who doesn’t think that,” the source said. “He thinks he can wait it out.” 

Cuomo was in a “fighting mood” over the weekend, even though many of his closest allies do not believe that the governor can survive the allegations of sexual harassment and amid growing calls for his resignation, according to Rev. Al Sharpton.

Sharpton, a civil rights activist who has long been involved in New York politics, told CNN that he spoke with multiple people close to Cuomo over the weekend, and that they described the governor as being in a “fighting mood” – a stark contrast from some of those close to Cuomo who are making preparations for when the governorship ultimately comes to an end. 

“People around him are looking for what’s the next chapter in their life, I’ll put it that way,” Sharpton said. “Where do I get a job?” 

One of Cuomo’s closest aides, Melissa DeRosa, resigned over the weekend. 

“I said to them – I don’t see how he survives,” Sharpton added about his conversations with Cuomo advisers over the weekend. 

CNN has reached out to Cuomo’s office for comment.

6 min ago

New York assembly speaker says Cuomo investigation must be done right, but also “in an expeditious manner”

From CNN’s Elizabeth Joseph

New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. (CNN)

The impeachment investigation process into New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo could wrap within weeks, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie told reporters in a news conference Monday afternoon.

“You want to make sure things are right, but also done in an expeditious manner,” he said, echoing comments made earlier in the press conference by Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine.

Heastie also reiterated his own comments from last week – that Assembly members have “no confidence in the ability of the governor to remain in office.”

Despite a media report to the contrary, Heastie confirmed he’s not negotiating any deals pertaining to Cuomo.

“I am not negotiating a deals … read that in a newspaper. I’m not part of any discussions or plan to be part of any discussions about cutting deals,” he said.

1 min ago

New York assembly speaker and Judiciary Committee chair say they haven’t spoken with Gov. Cuomo

From CNN’s Elizabeth Joseph

New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine have not been touch with embattled Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“I haven’t heard from the Governor, directly,” Lavine said when asked during a news conference.

“I have not spoken to the governor since the end of February other than discussions of the budget and the leaders meeting. And when I had Covid, he wished me well, but outside of that, I’ve had no conversations with the government,” Heastie said.

1 hr 44 min ago

New York Assembly’s Judiciary Committee chair won’t say if they will impeach if Cuomo resigns

From CNN’s Elizabeth Joseph

New York Assembly's Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine answers questions during a press conference on August 9.
New York Assembly’s Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine answers questions during a press conference on August 9. (CNN)

New York Assembly’s Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine skirted answering whether or not the Assembly would impeach Gov. Andrew Cuomo if he were to resign from office.

“We may very well have the authority to do that, and I wouldn’t discount that for a moment, but the end result would be, because he’s already out of office, an impeachment itself is going to be moot. It’s not going to be meaningful, but there would be the opportunity in the court of impeachment to prohibit him ever again occupying statewide office,” he said 

His comments follow a closed-door meeting regarding the investigation into Cuomo.

CNN’s Lauren del Valle contributed to this report

52 min ago

New York Assembly Judiciary committee will conclude impeachment inquiry in “several weeks,” chair says

New York Assembly Judiciary committee chair Charles Lavine outlined the next steps in the committee’s impeachment inquiry into Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

He said that the committee has scheduled two additional sessions — one on Aug. 16 and Aug. 23. At these hearings, the committee will be provided an update by lawyers from the firm Davis Polk on their independent investigation, Lavine said.

He said that starting next week, committee members will have access to the full body of evidence from the Attorney General’s investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo. Lavine said that “given the sensitivity” of these records and in an effort to “preserve confidentiality,” the records will only be accessible at a secure location.

Lavine said that the committee will hold a public hearing after Aug. 23. He said that they expect experts to testify on sexual harassment and impeachment proceedings.

After that, Lavine said that the committee will make its recommendation on whether to move forward with impeachment. He said that he expects this process to be concluded “very soon,” meaning in “several weeks.”

2 hr 23 min ago

NOW: New York State Assembly members hold news briefing

Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine speaks during a New York State Assembly Judiciary Committee meeting in Albany, New York, on August 9.
Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine speaks during a New York State Assembly Judiciary Committee meeting in Albany, New York, on August 9. Hans Pennink/AP

Speaker of the New York State Assembly Carl Heastie and Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine are holding a news conference following a briefing from their impeachment investigators this morning.

They are expected to provide more details for their investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo, including a possible timeline.

Some background: Investigators from the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell were hired by New York’s State Assembly to lead its impeachment investigation into Cuomo.

In a letter sent Thursday, lawyers working for the New York State Assembly Judiciary Committee’s impeachment probe informed Cuomo’s attorneys that the “Committee’s investigation is nearing completion and the Assembly will soon consider potential articles of impeachment against your client.”

The committee’s attorneys also invited Cuomo to submit additional evidence or written submissions to the committee by no later than Aug. 13.

2 hr 52 min ago

Cuomo’s accuser doesn’t plan to drop her criminal complaint even if he resigns

From CNN’s Lauren del Valle

Brittany Commisso, one of 11 women whose claims of sexual abuse were substantiated by an Aug. 3 report by the state’s attorney general, does not plan to withdraw her criminal complaint against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo even if he resigns from office, her attorney, Brian Premo, tells CNN Monday.

Commisso filed a criminal complaint against the embattled Democrat with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.

“It was the right thing to do. The governor needs to be held accountable,” she said in the CBS interview when asked why she filed a criminal complaint against Cuomo with the sheriff’s office.

“What he did to me was a crime. He broke the law,” Commisso said when asked during the interview if “being held accountable, to you, means seeing the governor charged with a crime.”

3 hr 9 min ago

Key things to know about Kathy Hochul, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s possible replacement 

From CNN’s Veronica Stracqualursi and Mark Morales

Lev Radin/Sipa USA/AP
Lev Radin/Sipa USA/AP

New York Lieutenant Gov. Kathy Hochul, 62, would be the state’s first female governor if current Gov. Andrew Cuomo were to resign or be forced out. A Buffalo native, she was first elected lieutenant governor of New York in 2014 as Cuomo’s running mate and won reelection alongside him in 2018.

Her old campaign website touts her work on raising the minimum wage in New York to $15, push for the state’s paid family leave law, and advocacy for women. She led the governor’s “Enough is Enough” initiative to combat sexual assault on college campuses and co-chairs the state’s heroin and opioid abuse task force.

She first garnered national attention after winning a US House special election in 2011 for New York’s 26th congressional district. The seat had long been considered safe by Republicans, who held the district for four decades until Hochul’s victory. The election was seen as a proxy battle over a then-House Republican proposal to reform Medicare.

While in Congress, she introduced the Clothe a Homeless Hero Act, which directed airports to deliver unclaimed clothes at airport checkpoints to veterans organizations. Her bill became law in 2013. She lost her reelection bid in 2012 to former Republican Rep. Chris Collins in the redrawn district.

Before her brief congressional stint, Hochul spent roughly 18 years in local state politics, including 14 years as a Hamburg Town Councilmember followed by nearly four years as Eric County clerk.

Over the years, she has shifted from being a more conservative-leaning Democrat — previously opposing granting drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants as Eric County clerk and earning an endorsement from the NRA in 2011 — to backing more progressive stances on issues.

Her other past jobs include working at M&T Bank, as an attorney for a Washington, DC, law firm, and as legal counsel and aide to two former New York Democratic politicians — US Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan and US Rep. John Joseph LaFalce.

Hochul, along with her mother and aunt, in 2006 founded a transitional home in Buffalo for victims of domestic violence called the Kathleen Mary House. She told Politico in 2014 that her grandmother had been a victim of domestic abuse, which prompted her and her family’s activism on the issue.

Read more about Hochul’s career here.