Hochul calls for Ardila to resign
ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul called for freshman Assemblyman Juan Ardila, D-queens, to resign following news reports of sexual misconduct eight years ago.
“It is intolerable and unacceptable what he did,” Hochul told reporters in New York City on Thursday. “I support the survivors in their call for accountability. And yes, he should resign.”
Hochul became governor in August 2021 after the resignation of then-gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who was facing mounting pressure to resign over numerous allegations of sexual harassment. He also faced an impeachment probe from the Assembly. Cuomo has denied the allegations.
Hochul’s statement came a day after Assembly Speaker E. Carl Heastie declined to weigh in on whether Ardila should resign. Heastie told reporters that because the alleged conduct occurred before the assemblyman’s time in office, it was outside their purview to refer the case to an investigation of the chamber’s Ethics Committee. Heastie said it is “a serious allegation” and “totally unacceptable.”
Over the course of the week, news reports, primarily from local outlets in Queens, have detailed accounts from two survivors about allegations he made crude sexual overtures to two Queens women during a party in October 2015. The two women told the Queens Chronicle and other local outlets that the alleged incidents occurred at a party for students and alumni of Fordham University, which they were attending at the time. Ardila had recently graduated.
One of the women was intoxicated when Ardila allegedly began touching her before leading her down the hallway, only to have a friend intervene, according to the Queens Chronicle. The other woman alleged she had been pulled into a bathroom by Ardila, who proceeded to kiss her, before exposing and touching himself.
Ardila said he took responsibility for his actions.
“I recognize that my role as a public servant requires transparency and trust. I made mistakes and I am not perfect,” Ardila said. “However, I am interested in and eager for a restorative justicecentered process so that we can heal and repair the damage done.”
State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, a freshman lawmaker and Democratic Socialist from Queens, said in response to Hochul’s comments: “We may not agree on everything, but we can agree that Ardila needs to resign.”