Mar 14, 2021 - Politics & Policy
Pelosi calls on Cuomo to "look inside his heart" to see if he can govern effectively
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) did not call for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to resign on Sunday, but said he "should look inside his heart...to see if he can govern effectively."
Why it matters: Both of the state's U.S. senators, a majority of Democrats in the state legislature, and nearly the entire 29-member congressional delegation are demanding that Cuomo resign after six women have accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior.
- More than 35 of the governor's current and former employees described his office to the New York Times as "chaotic, unprofessional and toxic, especially for young women."
- Cuomo has denied claims against groping a female staffer and any inappropriate touching. He acknowledged in a February statement that "some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation."
What she's saying: "I have confidence in the attorney general of New York, she has called for I think an expeditious investigation," Pelosi said. "I do think that the women deserve to hear the results of these investigations as does the governor."
- When asked if she is calling on Cuomo to resign, Pelosi said: "I think we should see the results — but he may decide, and that was, hopefully, this result will be soon. And what I'm saying is, the governor should look inside his heart — he loves New York — to see if he can govern effectively. And that could be one of the considerations that he has."
- Pelosi reiterated that "what these women have said must be treated with respect, they are credible and serious charges."