Support in Washington for New York’s governor, Andrew M. Cuomo, is collapsing as allegations against him pile up, with one conspicuous holdout: President Biden, who says he is deferring judgment pending the outcome of a state investigation into the governor’s behavior toward women.
Mr. Cuomo, a polarizing figure who has made his share of enemies in the nation’s capital, has long enjoyed an amicable relationship with two of Washington’s top Democrats, Mr. Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
But now he is confronting a spiraling set of allegations and investigations involving sexual harassment, a toxic workplace, the manipulation of the number of deaths at New York nursing homes and perceived loyalty tests from the governor’s vaccine czar.
The president has made only a passing comment on the crises, hoping to avoid getting pulled in any further.
Mr. Biden and Mr. Cuomo have not spoken, people close to both men said. Asked on Sunday night whether Mr. Cuomo should resign, Mr. Biden said only, “I think the investigation is underway, and we should see what it brings us.”
Ms. Pelosi has counseled patience, but seems to be ushering Mr. Cuomo politely toward the exits. In recent days, Ms. Pelosi — who was close to the governor’s father, Mario — joined Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House Democratic Caucus chairman, in suggesting Mr. Cuomo at least consider resigning.
Ms. Pelosi called the allegations “credible” over the weekend and suggested Mr. Cuomo ask himself whether he was still capable of governing.
Most other Democrats have been far less equivocal.
The Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat who has often tried to steer clear of fights inside his state, recently joined New York’s junior senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, in calling for Mr. Cuomo’s resignation “due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations.”
They have been joined by most of the state’s congressional delegation in both parties, including the Democrats Jerrold Nadler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, Tom Suozzi, Antonio Delgado, Mondaire Jones and Republicans including Elise Stefanik and Paul Tonko, along with many other representatives from other states.
Mr. Cuomo has denied the allegations and rejected calls to step down.
“I am not going to resign,” he told reporters earlier this month.
Support authors and subscribe to content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
