Bad-Cuomo hotline tallies 200 callers
ALBANY — More than 200 tips have flooded a hotline set up by the Assembly and attorneys overseeing an impeachment inquiry into Gov. Cuomo’s conduct and sexual harassment allegations.
Charles Lavine (D-Nassau), the chairman of the chamber’s Judiciary Committee, said Wednesday that investigators with Davis Polk, the law firm retained to head the probe, have so far spoken to about 70 people who may have “relevant information.”
The wide-ranging investigation is exploring multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by several women, including current and former staffers, who claim that Cuomo illegally used staff to help him write and promote a COVIDthemed book last year, as well as allegations that he favored family and friends with scarce coronavirus tests.
Also being eyed as lawmakers seek to determine whether to move toward impeachment is the potential hiding of the true number of COVID deaths in nursing homes, issues with the Mario Cuomo Bridge and whether the governor knew of any attempts to “suppress or obstruct related investigations,” according to Lavine.
“Davis Polk team has been working with all due, and deliberate speed to investigate each and every one of these allegations,” the Long Island Democrat said.
The update came during a brief public portion of a meeting preceding a closed-door conference on the investigation. A majority vote in the chamber would set up a potential impeachment trial overseen by the Senate and the state Court of Appeals.
Amid the mounting scandals, dozens of Cuomo’s fellow Democrats as well as Republicans have called on the governor to resign.
He is also facing an independent investigation into the sexual harassment claims being overseen by Attorney General Letitia James’ office and a federal probe into his administration’s handling of COVID deaths in nursing homes.
Earlier this week, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli also asked James’ office to investigate allegations that Cuomo used state resources in the “development and promotion” of his book on the pandemic.
The governor has denied any wrongdoing and has repeatedly said he has no intention of stepping down.
Asked Wednesday whether he would resign if the attorney general’s report concludes that he did sexually harass employees, Cuomo said, “Let’s see what the review says.”