Heastie’s hedge on impeach

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie defended state Attorney General Letitia James’ integrity amid her office’s sexual-harassment probe of embattled Gov. Cuomo — but said he wouldn’t impeach the threeterm Democratic incumbent based solely on the results of her investigative report.

Heastie tasked the Assembly Judiciary Committee with conducting an impeachment probe of Cuomo. The investigation is looking at sexual-harassment claims leveled against Cuomo by current and former staffers, his actions during the coronavirus pandemic affecting nursing homes, and whether he used government resources to publish his $5.1 million COVID-19 book.

“I believe that it should be part of the Assembly’s review but I don’t know if the [AG’s] report itself alone without the conclusion of the Judiciary Committee’s work should rise to an action,” Heastie said.

He said the Assembly panel should be given ample time to complete its probe.

Debra Katz, a lawyer for one of Cuomo’s accusers, former staffer Charlotte Bennett, called Heastie’s remarks “a betrayal of the duties of his office and demonstrates that his loyalty is to Gov. Cuomo.”