New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie revealed Thursday that he authorized an impeachment investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment.
The New York Assembly Judiciary Committee, chaired by state Rep. Charles Lavine, will now examine the allegations, Heastie said in a statement.
"The reports of accusations concerning the governor are serious," he said.
Statement from Speaker Carl Heastie on Authorizing Assembly Judiciary Committee to Begin Impeachment Investigation into Governor Cuomo pic.twitter.com/KSBKdAsjvF
— Mike Whyland (@mwhyland) March 11, 2021
Six women have now accused Gov. Cuomo of inappropriate touching and sexual comments in the workplace. The Albany Police Department said Thursday it was investigating one alleged incident, saying it may rise "to the level of a crime,"The New York Times reported.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James is also conducting an independent investigation. That, however, is expected to take months — amid calls for the governor to step down immediately.
Cuomo's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. He denies the allegations.
It's not the only scandal facing the governor, however. Cuomo has also been accused of undercounting nursing home deaths amid the COVID-19 pandemic -- indeed, his aides were found to have altereed a report to lower the reported number.
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