Cuomo in Trouble
The scandals surrounding Gov. Andrew Cuomo could mean the end of his administration
New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, is on thin ice. For the last month, scandal after scandal has rocked his administration. Not six months ago, Americans faced the East Coast governor through rose-tinted glasses. After months of quite literal brotherly coverage from CNN, Cuomo was hailed as the transparent leader that the previous president lacked.
Chris Cuomo, the brother to the now embattle governor, interviewed the governor multiple times, many times engaging in familial banter between the two. Now, however, Chris can no longer provide such rosy coverage of his brother. Instead, he has been off to the sidelines, saying that he can’t cover his brother.
The shift in public opinion came after a report accused Cuomo of covering up the death count for nursing homes, an accusation that hits at the very heart of the governor’s reputation. With over 500,000 people dead of COVID nationally and at least 47,857 deaths in New York alone, the alleged cover-up could sink his governorship. It was COVID-19 that made Cuomo a symbol of responsible governance and transparency. Still, with that image now falling apart, his future is growing perilous, especially when partisan support is far from guaranteed.
Some New York Democrats are turning on Cuomo, calling for his resignation. New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and House Speaker Carl Heastie have now come out against Cuomo, arguing that his behavior has become disruptive and should resign. In her statement, which was released yesterday, Stewart-Cousins wrote, “New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the societal, health and economic impacts of it,” Stewart-Cousins wrote in a statement. “We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state, Governor Cuomo must resign.” Heastie eventually would announce his concurrence with that position.
The intra-party opposition to Cuomo’s continued governorship signifies that the winds are turning on his administration, especially after five women accused him of sexual misconduct and harassment. With one of them working for his office in the past.
In addition to the abuse of trust created by his alleged misconduct, Cuomo also faces an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office. She will choose someone to lead the investigation soon, reports suggest. However, that is not the only investigation that Cuomo is facing. The FBI and Department of Justice are investigating whether or not Cuomo and his affiliates actively covered up nursing home death numbers, as reports suggested.
While the investigations are ongoing, new information is coming out every day, and more revelations are sure to follow. While Cuomo’s fate is far from certain, it appears his star is fading for good.