Schumer calls latest Cuomo charge ‘nauseating’

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) in a Thursday interview called the latest allegation of sexual harassment against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) “nauseating.”

“The allegations of these women are serious. They’re deeply troubling. Last night’s was nauseating,” Schumer said during an interview on SiriusXM’s “The Joe Madison Show.” 

The Times Union of Albany reported on Wednesday that an unnamed aide accused Cuomo of groping her last year when she was asked to come to the Executive Mansion to help him with a cellphone issue. The aide accuses the governor of shutting a door, reaching under her blouse and fondling her.

The unnamed aide is the sixth woman to come forward alleging inappropriate behavior by Cuomo.

Cuomo denied the allegations in a statement to The Hill on Wednesday.

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) opened an investigation last week after three women came forward and on Monday appointed former U.S. attorney Joon Kim and Anne Clark, who specializes in employment discrimination law, to lead the investigation.   

Schumer told Madison that he believed James will “turn over every stone.”

“I believe she will pursue every lead. … And I also believe that she will not let any outside or political interference stop her from getting all the facts out,” he said.

Cuomo has faced an avalanche of calls for his resignation over the allegations, but has insisted he will not do so. He’s urged people to hold their judgment until an investigation is concluded.

The governor is also facing a separate controversy surrounding the counting of COVID-19 deaths at nursing homes in the state.

More than 55 Democratic members of the New York State Assembly sent a letter to Cuomo on Thursday calling for his resignation.

Schumer said last Tuesday that the allegations against Cuomo were “deeply troubling” and that the women “have to be listened to,” but didn’t say that he should resign.