• Cuomo faces growing calls to resign over harassment allegations,
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 said Mr. 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 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.
An Albany Police Department spokesperson told The New York Times that police had reached out to a representative for the woman.
The possible police involvement comes as more lawmakers called on Mr. Cuomo to resign over the allegations of misconduct with women and of his administration concealing how many nursing home residents died of COVID-19.
At least 121 members of the state Assembly and Senate — 65 Democrats and 56 Republicans — have said publicly they believe Mr. Cuomo should quit, according to a tally by The Associated Press.
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 Mr. Heastie and Ms. James.
“The Legislature needs to determine for itself what the facts are,” said Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, a member of the committee. “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 Mr. 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 said the governor’s aides smeared her after she accused him of sexual harassment.
“All of us are extremely disappointed,” said Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, a Democrat. “I think there’s no room in the world right now for that kind of behavior. He should have known better.”
Ms. Gunther on Thursday became the ninth Assembly Democrat to back impeachment, alongside at least 37 Republicans.
Mr. Cuomo’s support in the state Senate is especially thin: Roughly twothirds of its members have called for his resignation, including Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
A group of 59 Democrats — 19 senators and 40 Assembly members — said in a letter Thursday that it’s time for Mr. Cuomo to go.
“In light of the governor’s admission of inappropriate behavior and the findings of altered data on nursing home COVID-19 deaths he has lost the confidence of the public and the state legislature, rendering him ineffective in this time of most urgent need,” the letter said. “It is time for Gov. Cuomo to resign.”
Mr.Cuomo has repeatedly said he won’t resign and urged the public to await the outcome of the attorney general’s investigation.