President Joe Biden said Tuesday that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign if the several sexual misconduct allegations against him are confirmed by an investigation.<\/p>\n
In an interview with ABC News\u2019 George Stephanopoulos, the president said that the three-term Democratic governor must leave his post if an independent investigation commissioned by New York Attorney General Letitia James confirms the allegations made by multiple women, most of whom worked for Cuomo.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you said you want the investigation to continue,\u201d Stephanopoulos told Biden. \u201cIf the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?\u201d<\/p>\n
The president replied yes, adding, \u201cI think he\u2019ll probably end up being prosecuted, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday, seven women in recent weeks have accused Cuomo of engaging in sexual misconduct with them. Most of the women said they had worked for Cuomo at the time of the alleged sexual harassment and assault, and all have revealed their identities \u2015 except for one, whose allegation that he groped her in the Governor\u2019s Mansion was referred to police in Albany, New York.<\/p>\n
Cuomo has repeatedly denied the allegations, giving an apology in which he said his actions were not inappropriate. The governor has refused to resign \u2015 questioning the accusers\u2019 motivations, alleging the misconduct was a misunderstanding and insinuating that he is the victim of \u201ccancel culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mounting accusations \u2015 combined with a separate scandal in which the governor underreported New York\u2019s COVID-19 death toll in nursing homes \u2015 have resulted in a growing list of lawmakers and public officials who are calling on Cuomo to resign.<\/p>\n
But Biden stopped just short of joining the lawmakers in demanding Cuomo\u2019s immediate resignation in Tuesday\u2019s interview, saying that \u201ca woman should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTakes a lot of courage to come forward,\u201d the president said. \u201cSo, the presumption is they should be taken seriously. And it should be investigated. And that\u2019s what\u2019s underway now.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Stephanopoulos asked Biden if Cuomo can serve New York effectively, the president said \u201cthat\u2019s a judgment for them to make,\u201d referring to the New York Assembly, senators and most of the congressional delegation who no longer believe in Cuomo\u2019s ability to govern.<\/p>\n