Resignation demands on New York governor grow
Warriors fall to Clippers
ALBANY, N.Y. >> New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s grip on power appeared increasingly threatened Thursday as a majority of state legislators called for his resignation, Democrats launched an impeachment investigation and police in the state capital said they stood ready to investigate a groping allegation.
The firestorm around the Democrat grew a day after the Times Union of Albany reported that an unidentified aide had claimed Cuomo reached under her shirt and fondled her at his official residence late last year.
The woman hasn’t filed a criminal complaint, but a lawyer for the governor said Thursday that the state had reported the allegation to the Albany Police Department after the woman involved declined to do so herself.
“In this case the person is represented by counsel and when counsel confirmed the client did not want to make a report, the state notified the police department and gave them the attorney’s information,” said Beth Garvey, the governor’s acting counsel.
Support evaporates
An Albany Police Department spokesperson, Steve Smith, didn’t immediately return a message from The Associated Press, but told The New York Times police had reached out to a representative for the woman.
The possible involvement of police comes as more lawmakers called on Cuomo to resign over alleged misconduct with women and allegations that his administration concealed how many nursing home residents died of COVID-19.
At least 121 members of the state Assembly and Senate have said publicly they believe Cuomo should quit office now, according to a tally by The Associated Press. The count includes 65 Democrats and 56 Republicans.
The top Democrat in the state Assembly, Speaker Carl Heastie, on Thursday backed a plan for its judiciary committee to launch an impeachment investigation.
The committee can interview witnesses and subpoena documents and its inquiry could be wide- ranging: from alleged sexual misconduct to COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes. It won’t interfere with a separate inquiry of sexual harassment allegations being conducted by state Attorney General Letitia James, according to Heastie and James.
“The legislature needs to determine for itself what the facts are,” a member of the committee, Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, said. “For the people who want immediate impeachment, I think we say please be patient. The process is slow. This could be the next step.”
In New York, the Assembly is the legislative house that could move to impeach Cuomo, who faces multiple allegations that he made the workplace an uncomfortable place for young women with sexually suggestive remarks and behavior, including unwanted touching and a kiss. One aide claimed the governor’s aides publicly smeared her after she accused him of sexual harassment.
“All of us are extremely disappointed,” Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, a Democrat representing Orange and Sullivan counties, told The Associated Press. “I think there’s no room in the world right not for that kind of behavior. He should have known better.”
Gunther on Thursday became the ninth Assembly Democrat saying they’d vote for impeachment, alongside at least 37 Republicans.
Cuomo’s support in the state Senate was especially thin. Roughly two-thirds of its members have called for the Democrat’s resignation, including Majority Leader Andrea StewartCousins.
SACRAMENTO >> De’Aaron Fox had 30 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, and the Sacramento Kings sent the Houston Rockets to their 14th consecutive loss, 125105 on Thursday night.
Buddy Hield added 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Sacramento, which had dropped 11 of 13 before the All-Star break.
Harrison Barnes and
Richaun Holmes each had 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Victor Oladipo had 23 points and eight assists but couldn’t help Houston end its longest losing streak in nearly two decades. Kevin Porter Jr. added 13 points and a career-best 10 assists.
The hard-luck Rockets, already without starters John
Wall and P.J. Tucker, lost Eric Gordon to a possible groin injury midway through the third quarter. Gordon, who scored 17 points, had missed the previous two games with a left knee injury.
It’s been that kind of season for coach Stephen Silas’ team. The Rockets’ slump is their longest since losing 15 straight in 2001. Houston’s last win came Feb. 4 against Memphis. Sacramento never trailed after a 15-0 run early in the second quarter. KAWHI, CLIPPERS EASE BY WARRIORS ON PRIME TIME >>
Golden State came up short during a 130-104 blowout loss to the LA Clippers Thursday night at Staples Center.
The Warriors ( 19-19) trailed by only two points at the start of the second quarter, but he Clippers (25-14) would lead by as many as 39 points before the start of the fourth. With the game decided, Wiseman entered for the first time and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds in 11 minutes.
For Curry, fresh off winning the 3-point contest and playing for the winning team in the All-Star Game, his patience for rebuilding may have worn thin.
Golden State has now lost four straight, its longest losing streak of the season. Development appears to have stalled. Curry could only muster 14 points on 6-for-16 shooting (1-for- 8 from 3-point range) as Andrew Wiggins (15 points, eight rebounds) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (15 points, six rebounds) contributed but could not carry the load.