A version of this column, from the weekly opinion piece MATTER OF FACT, first appeared on BrooklynReporter.com, the Home Reporter and Spectator dated August 6, 2021
More than eight years ago, on May 17, 2013, Governor Cuomo said in a statement that “there should be a zero tolerance policy when it comes to sexual harassment and we must now send a clear message that this behavior is not tolerated.” Cuomo was referring to detailed sexual harassment allegations against then-Assemblyman Vito Lopez, which had been made public by the state’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics.
In light of the disturbing accounts from multiple women cited in that 2013 report, Cuomo added, “Vito Lopez should not spend another day in office, let alone a whole month. He should resign effective immediately and if he does not, he must be expelled.” Lopez would announce his resignation that same day.
Without any sense of irony, following Attorney General Letitia James’ announcement Tuesday, August 3 that the independent probe into Cuomo found that he sexually harassed several women, the Governor dismissed the charges and vowed to continue on. In a bizarre decision, included in Cuomo’s pre-taped denial video he released that day, was a slideshow of photos showing him kissing and touching family members, acquaintances, and even strangers, as if that explained away the unwanted kissing and touching eleven women detailed in the AG report.
Turning back to the date I began with, another story made headlines eight years ago on May 17,2013, when Cuomo made his “zero tolerance when it comes to sexual harassment” statement. On that date, it was reported that an Army Lt. Col. in charge of the sexual harassment and assault response program at Fort Campbell in Kentucky had turned himself into authorities, being the third member of the military heading up one of these programs in different areas of the armed forces to face criminal charges that week for the type of behavior they were tasked with preventing.
““If the Governor refuses to resign, then the Assembly should move to impeach the Governor immediately.””
State Senator Andrew Gounardes; August 3, 2021
For many years, Cuomo has touted himself as an ally of women who is fighting against sexual harassment in the workplace, but as with those military members who were accused of criminal sexual misconduct in 2013 despite being in charge of the programs meant to address sexual harassment and assault, Cuomo’s public advocacy on this matter has belied his inexcusable behavior behind closed doors with women in professional settings.
More than four months ago, I wrote in my March 4 column that Cuomo should resign. I said that I did not have any confidence he would do what should be done and that Democrats need to continue to support any of his accusers and be unrelenting in their calls for him to be held accountable.
Locally, Senator Gounardes responded to the August 3 AG report, saying that “If the Governor refuses to resign, then the Assembly should move to impeach the Governor immediately.” Assemblymember Frontus said a the time, “There is currently no scenario where it now makes sense for the Governor to remain in office.” Councilman Brannan had said, “the Governor’s behavior is deplorable, abhorrent, and disqualifying. He should resign and if he doesn’t, he should be removed.”
Besides state and city electeds from his own party, calls for Cuomo to resign also came from Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, as well as President Biden. As has been the case for months, Democrats at all levels of government denounced Cuomo’s behavior and called for him to step down.
Republicans were also quick to demand the Governor resign, despite repeatedly looking the other way when similar credible accusations surface against members of their own party. Rep. Matt Gaetz is under criminal investigation for child rape and sex trafficking, yet fellow GOP House members, including from our area, ignore questions about whether he should remain on congressional committees. Donald Trump has been credibly accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of women, yet that does not stop a Republican member of Congress from posing for photos with Trump one day and then calling for Cuomo’s resignation the next.
I stood with other Democrats in consistently demanding that Cuomo resign immediately and that, if he did not, the state Assembly move ahead with the impeachment process post-haste. Ultimately, that pressure from his own party forced Cuomo to resign. If only Republicans could put basic decency over political tribes, we could hold all elected sexual harassers to account, not just the ones with a “D” next to their name.
