As Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo faces multiple scandals and calls for his resignation, some see a possible impeachment as the most effective way to remove him from office.
State lawmakers, however, announced on Tuesday that their investigation of the embattled governor could take “months” to complete.
“Breadth and seriousness”
Critics are responding to the news by speculating that Democrats are using it as a stall tactic to help Cuomo survive the most perilous period of his political career.
For his part, New York State Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine, a Democrat, said that the impeachment probe will take “months, rather than weeks” as legislators “assess whether there’s evidence that the governor has engaged in conduct that justifies articles of impeachment.”
He cited “the breadth and seriousness of the issues under investigation” as the reason for an extended timeline.
Cuomo has experienced a precipitous fall from grace in recent months after his leadership style was heralded by the mainstream media and pundits on both sides of the aisle during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to reports that his administration underreported the death toll among nursing home patients infected with the virus, multiple women have gone public this year to accuse him of sexual misconduct. Nevertheless, the governor remains defiant, even declaring earlier this month that he does not think he has “ever done anything” as a politician that he is “ashamed of.”
“More than enough evidence”
The New York Post editorial board made it clear where it stands on the latest impeachment news, calling the delay a “flagrant farce” meant to protect the governor.
“There’s more than enough evidence to impeach Cuomo just for his corrupt coverup of the true toll of his deadly order forcing nursing homes to accept COVID-contagious patients,” the recent editorial argues.
Some of Cuomo’s accusers have even refused to cooperate with the legislative probe, including one who called it a “sham.”
Nevertheless, some prominent Democrats — including Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — have unequivocally called for Cuomo to step down.
President Joe Biden is not among them, however, insisting that an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James should conclude before any such demands are made. The question remains, however, whether the governor is merely being provided due process or is benefiting from a concerted effort to save his career.
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