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New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said she’s determined to steer the Legislature through budget negotiations with Governor Andrew Cuomo, even though the governor has ignored her calls for him to resign over a sexual harassment scandal.
The Senate Leader, along with most of the majority party Democrats in the chamber, have called for Cuomo to leave, after multiple women have alleged he sexually harassed them or behaved inappropriately. Stewart-Cousins said nevertheless, the state budget, which includes plans to help New Yorkers beat COVID and improve the economy, has to be finished by the March 31 deadline, and she will need to work with the governor’s office to do it.
The lawyer, Debra Katz, said she was alarmed to learn of the firm s retention and warned that it may affect the willingness of Bennett and other Cuomo accusers to cooperate with the Assembly s investigation.
Katz s objection is based on two facts. State Court of Appeals Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, who would be a juror in a Senate trial of Cuomo if he is impeached, is married to former longtime David Polk partner Dennis Glazer. And, Cuomo appointed Glazer to the board of the State University of New York, Purchase.
Last month, Cuomo failed in his effort to get state Attorney General Letitia James to agree to conduct the investigation of him in conjunction with DiFiore. That effort was seen as a bid by Cuomo to have some measure of political sway over the probe.
ALBANY, NY (WSKG) – The leader of the State Senate, Andrea Stewart-Cousins says he’s determined to steer the senate through budget negotiations with Governor Andrew Cuomo, even though the governor has ignored her calls for him to resign over a sexual harassment scandal.
The Senate Leader, along with most of the majority party Democrats in the chamber, have called for Cuomo to leave, after multiple women have alleged he sexually harassed them or behaved inappropriately. Stewart-Cousins says nevertheless, the state budget, which includes plans to help New Yorkers beat Covid and improve the economy , has to be finished by the March 31 deadline, and she will need to work with the governor’s office to do it.
Facing political crisis, Andrew Cuomo counts on Black leaders for support
Watch: Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces new COVID vaccination sites
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ALBANY – The walls were closing in on Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
It was the afternoon of March 7 and Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a fellow Democrat and the first Black woman to serve as state Senate majority leader, had just called for his resignation. He worked the phones, trying to keep rank-and-file lawmakers from following the senator s lead.
Cuomo, facing sexual-misconduct allegations and a looming nursing-home scandal, needed a show of support. And on March 8, he got it.
With cameras rolling, more than 20 pastors and reverends from influential Black and Latino churches literally stood behind Cuomo at an event at the Javits Center in Manhattan. He held a similar event near Syracuse the next day, and again Monday on Long Island.
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