Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he will not step down
despite top state Democrats calling for his resignation over more allegations
of inappropriate work conduct.
Two more women came forward over the weekend, accusing the governor of acting
inappropriately with them.
One of the accusers, Karen Hinton, tells NBC that Cuomo hugged her
inappropriately in a California hotel room 21 years ago.
She told the network that she could feel he was sexually aroused, and says he began asking her personal
questions, which made her uncomfortable.
During a call with reporters, the governor says his actions were misunderstood
and he is not going to resign.
“I say to people in the office, ‘How are you doing? How’s everything? You going
out? Are you dating? That’s my way of doing friendly banter,’” he says. “I take pictures with people at ceremonial
events. That is a very common practice.”
State Senate Majority Leader Andrew Stewart-Cousins, however, says the governor
needs to resign.
“New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the
society, health and economic impacts of it,” Stewart-Cousins says. “We need to
govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state, Gov. Cuomo must
resign.”