NEW YORK -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's monthslong fall from grace reached a nadir Tuesday, when investigators said they substantiated sexual harassment allegations against him from 11 women, many of whom have worked for him.
Cuomo, once widely beloved for his telegenic response to the coronavirus pandemic, continues to deny the allegations and maintains he isn't going anywhere -- but his political future might soon be out of his own hands.
Here are the takeaways from the report and Cuomo's response, along with what happens next:
WHAT WAS CUOMO
ACCUSED OF DOING?
Multiple women accused Cuomo of sexual harassment and assault. The public allegations, which started in December and cascaded over the winter, ranged from inappropriate comments to forced kisses and groping.
DID THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S PROBE
FIND CUOMO GUILTY?
Well, no. A probe can't find anyone guilty -- that's for a judge and jury to decide. Plus, the probe was civil, not criminal, in nature. But investigators did find the 11 women were telling the truth about Cuomo's behavior and that Cuomo created a hostile work environment "rife with fear and intimidation."
BUT WILL CUOMO
BE CHARGED?
State Attorney General Letitia James, who oversaw the probe, said there would be no criminal referral but local police and prosecutors can use the evidence and findings to build their own cases. The district attorney in New York's capital, Albany, said Tuesday he was requesting James' investigative materials and encouraged victims to come forward.
CUOMO TOLD THE PUBLIC TO WAIT TO JUDGE HIM UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION WAS COMPLETE. WHAT DOES HE SAY NOW?
Cuomo is more defiant than ever, disputing allegations in a taped response and saying "the facts are much different than what has been portrayed" and that he "never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances." He also alleged that the investigation itself was fueled by "politics and bias."
HOW IS CUOMO
EXPLAINING
HIS BEHAVIOR?
Cuomo apologized for making staffers feel uncomfortable, but chalked up some of the allegations to misunderstandings caused by generational and cultural differences (he's Italian American) while flat-out denying the more serious allegations. Accompanied by multiple slideshows of Cuomo and other politicians embracing members of the public, the governor said the gesture was inherited from his parents and meant to convey warmth.
IS ANYONE PRESSURING CUOMO TO RESIGN?
Lots of people. President Joe Biden -- once Cuomo's close ally -- said Tuesday that, while he hadn't read the report, he thought Cuomo should quit. Both U.S. senators for New York, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, say he should resign. So does U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the governors of neighboring New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, and many other Democrats.
OK, SO WHAT'S
NEXT IF CUOMO DOESN'T RESIGN?
The state Assembly has the power to bring impeachment charges against Cuomo and aims to wrap up its own probe "as quickly as possible," according to Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat who said it was clear Cuomo could no longer remain in office. The Assembly could theoretically vote to launch impeachment proceedings before the probe is finished.
WHY CAN'T NEW
YORKERS JUST
RECALL CUOMO?
This isn't California. New York has no mechanism to remove elected officials via recall.
FINE. HOW DOES
IMPEACHMENT
IN NEW YORK WORK?
New York impeachments start in the Assembly, and if a majority of members vote to impeach Cuomo, the matter moves to the Impeachment Court. In this case, that court would comprise the state Senate -- minus its majority leader -- and the seven judges of the state's highest court. Two-thirds of the court would need to vote to convict to remove Cuomo.
