Biden calls on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to step down after report details sexual harassment allegations

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“I think he should resign. I understand the state legislature may decide to impeach. I don’t know for sure,” Biden said in response to a question from CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.

One of the biggest criticisms to date for a governor who had been among Biden’s political allies until a string of allegations was the call by the country’s most powerful Democrat to resign Cuomo. of sexual harassment was made public earlier this year. Biden had said in March that he believed Cuomo should step down if the investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James corroborated the allegations.

James said Tuesday that his investigation found Cuomo engaged in “unwelcome and non-consensual touching” and made comments of a “suggestive” sexual nature. James said the conduct created a “hostile work environment for women.” In a speech after the report was released, Cuomo denied all of the allegations against him.

“I want you to know directly from me that I have never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances,” Cuomo said.

After the report was released, a series of powerful Democrats in New York and Washington, in addition to Biden, called on Cuomo to step down.

When asked if he thought Cuomo should be impeached, Biden responded to “take one thing at a time.”

The president was also asked if he tolerated Cuomo’s office using a photo of him kissing other officials and citizens in the past as part of the governor’s defense. During Cuomo’s remarks, he released a slideshow of himself physically kissing a myriad of people, and a defense brief posted on his website included photos of other politicians hugging or physically touching people.

Biden said he was sure there were “totally innocent hugs, but apparently the attorney general decided there were things that weren’t.”

Biden said he did not speak to Cuomo on Tuesday.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki earlier called the sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo “heinous.”

“I’m not sure if anyone could have looked this morning and not found the heinous allegations. I know I certainly did,” Psaki said when asked about the prosecutor’s investigation. New York General Letitia James.

Psaki said there was no conversation on Tuesday between the White House and the governor’s office.

She added that the message from the White House to the women who presented their testimonies is that “all women who have had … this type of experience – whether it is harassment or abuse or at worst. cases of aggression – – deserve to be heard, deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. “

This story has been updated with additional developments.

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