Jimmie Johnson Reporter

Will New York embrace former governor Andrew Cuomo’s reboot?

Apr 06, 2022

Jimmie Johnson Reporter

By Jimmie Johnson (Reporter), Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor)

Disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo may be laying the groundwork for a political comeback. In recent weeks, Cuomo has made several public appearances and has released television ads with narratives aimed at clearing his name and unfinished business.

In August 2021, Cuomo reluctantly stepped down from office after New York Attorney General Letitia James released a report saying, “Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and in doing so violated federal and state law.” Since then, multiple prosecutors declined to file charges, and a judge dismissed the lone criminal charge that was filed against Cuomo.

On Mar. 17, Cuomo attended a community event in the Bronx. While there he discussed crime, bail reform, and the ‘Defund The Police’ movement.

“The ‘Defund The Police’ movement, while driven by legitimate concern is counterproductive,” Cuomo said.

During that speech, Cuomo also painted himself as a victim of cancel culture. He said the media and its billionaire owners helped facilitate his political takedown.

“They are afraid to be canceled,” Cuomo said. “I know because my family paid the price for them being afraid of cancel culture.”

In addition to the media, Cuomo called out politicians who “smelled blood.”

“He said that Tisha James–that this was sort of a political prosecution and I think there’s something there,” Sunny Hostin, attorney and co-host of daytime talk show ‘The View,’ said. “You know where there is some smoke, there’s fire. I just think it does appear to be politically motivated. She was running for governor but that was a little short-lived and there’s something to be said about that.”

Former Assistant to President Donald Trump Alyssa Farah-Griffin called out Cuomo’s shortcomings in handling COVID-19. In particular, the deadly nursing home scandal.

“10,000 senior citizens died in nursing homes in New York while he was writing a book that he profited off and by the way looking at ethics, he was using government resources to help research and write that book,” Farah-Griffin said on ‘The View.’.

Many thought revelations from that scandal would spell the end of Cuomo’s political career, but Farah-Griffin said his ego will not let him quit.

“I think he will pursue office again,” Farah-Griffin said. “I think he absolutely thinks he’s the best, he’s wanted. There’s a lane there. I hope there’s not.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON: TV ADS ‘PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF ANDREW CUOMO’ ARE RUNNING IN NEW YORK — AIMING TO CLEAR THE FORMER GOVERNOR’S NAME.

DAN ABRAMS: “The case against Andrew Cuomo appears to be crumbling.”

JIMMIE: IN AUGUST 2021, CUOMO RELUCTANTLY STEPPED DOWN FROM OFFICE AFTER NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES RELEASED A REPORT SAYING, “GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO SEXUALLY HARASSED MULTIPLE WOMEN AND IN DOING SO VIOLATED FEDERAL AND STATE LAW.”

ANDREW CUOMO: ”The attorney general’s report was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic and it worked.”

JIMMIE: SINCE THEN, MULTIPLE PROSECUTORS DECLINED TO FILE CHARGES, AND A JUDGE DISMISSED THE LONE CRIMINAL CHARGE THAT WAS FILED AGAINST HIM.

SO, IS THE FORMER GOVERNOR LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A POLITICAL COMEBACK? LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT.

CUOMO HAS BEEN ATTENDING COMMUNITY EVENTS AND SUNDAY SERVICES, SPEAKING ON TOPICS SUCH AS CRIME, BAIL REFORM AND THE DEFUND THE POLICE MOVEMENT.

CUOMO: “The defund the police movement, while driven by legitimate concern is counterproductive.”

JIMMIE: WHILE POINTING TO THE ISSUES FACING NEW YORKERS, CUOMO IS TRYING TO REBUILD HIS OWN IMAGE – PAINTING HIMSELF AS A VICTIM OF CANCEL CULTURE.

HE SAYS THE MEDIA AND ITS BILLIONAIRE OWNERS HELPED FACILITATE HIS DEMISE.

CUOMO: “They are afraid to be canceled. I know because my family paid the price for them being afraid of cancel culture.”

CUOMO WENT EVEN FURTHER – CALLING OUT POLITICIANS IN ALBANY – SAYING THEY SMELLED BLOOD IN THE WATER.

SUNNY HOSTIN: ”He said that Tisha James that this was sort of a political prosecution and I think there’s something there. You know where there is some smoke there’s fire.” … ”I just think it does appear to be politically motivated. She was running for governor but that was a little short-lived and there’s something to be said about that.”

HOWEVER, CRITICS POINT OUT THE FORMER GOVERNOR HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THIS DEADLY NURSING HOME SCANDAL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ALYSSA FARAH-GRIFFIN: “10k senior citizens died in nursing homes in New York while he was writing a book that he profited off and by the way looking at ethics, he was using government resources to help research and write that book.”

JIMMIE: WHILE SOME THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN FOR CUOMO’S POLITICAL CAREER, HIS CRITICS DON’T THINK SO.

FARAH-GRIFFIN: “I think he will pursue office again.”

JIMMIE: SO, WILL CUOMO CHALLENGE HIS REPLACEMENT GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL

OR GO TO WAR AGAINST LETITIA JAMES FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL?

LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.