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The Cuomo scandal: Can he be charged with a crime or forced to resign?

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Despite calls from top Democrats for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign, he defiantly holds onto political power. The state’s attorney general probe claims that Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women. What does this mean for his future?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO REMAINS DEFIANT AFTER AN NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL INVESTIGATION SUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS FROM ELEVEN WOMEN THAT HE SEXUALLY HARASSED THEM. 

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO: The facts are much different than what is being portrayed.

JIMMIE: SEVERAL LEADERS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, INCLUDING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, ARE NOW CALLING FOR HIM TO STEP DOWN. 

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: I think he should resign.

JIMMIE: WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE DISGRACED POLITICIAN? 

LET ME EXPLAIN.

ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES: Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and in doing so violated federal and state law.

JIMMIE: NEW YORK’S ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THE ELEVEN WOMEN INVOLVED ARE CURRENT AND FORMER STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. 

THE FIRST TO COME FORWARD WAS, LINDSEY BOYLAN, ONE OF THE GOVERNOR’S FORMER ADVISERS. IN DECEMBER 2020, BOYLAN SENT OUT A FIRESTORM OF TWEETS ACCUSING HIM OF MISCONDUCT. 

TEN OTHER WOMEN WOULD EVENTUALLY COME FORWARD. 

NOW WHAT? DID THE AG FIND CUOMO GUILTY OF ANY CRIME? 

THE PROBE WAS CIVIL AND NOT A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. 

SECONDLY, CAN CUOMO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES? 

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL NOT BE CHARGING HIM. BUT ANY PROSECUTORS WHO WANT THE FINDINGS OF HER PROBE CAN REQUEST IT.

THIRD, WILL THE GOVERNOR RESIGN? 

SO FAR THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE NO INDICATION HE PLANS TO RESIGN. 

AND NEW YORK STATE HAS NO RECALL LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT WOULD ALLOW VOTERS TO PETITION TO REMOVE HIM. 

THE ONLY WAY TO KICK HIM OUT OF OFFICE, BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION, IS THROUGH IMPEACHMENT. 

IF A MAJORITY OF LAWMAKERS VOTE TO IMPEACH HIM, THE STATE WOULD THEN HOLD IMPEACHMENT COURT. 

TWO-THIRDS OF THE COURT WOULD NEED TO VOTE TO CONVICT GOV. CUOMO TO EFFECTIVELY REMOVE HIM FROM OFFICE. 

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S INVESTIGATION? IS IT POLITICAL LIKE CUOMO SUGGESTS? 

LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!