House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday fell short of calling for the resignation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), instead urging the governor to “look inside his heart” to see if he can “govern effectively.”
“The governor should look inside his heart, he loves New York, to see if he can govern effectively,” Pelosi told host George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week” adding that resigning is “going to be one of the considerations that he has.”
The House speaker also said that Cuomo and New Yorkers alike must “look inside themselves” and ask “how effective is their leadership in leading the state under the circumstances that are there.”
Pelosi expressed confidence New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), who is leading an investigation into the claims of sexual harassment against Cuomo. She said the women who have come forward with allegations “deserve to hear the results of these investigations, as does the governor.”
Pelosi called the claims “credible and serious charges,” and said they “must be treated with respect.”
Several times throughout the interview Pelosi emphasized “zero tolerance” for sexual harassment.
Cuomo has faced calls from Democratic leaders in the state Senate and Assembly to step down after six women, including current and former aides, accused him of unwanted sexual advances and inappropriate behavior. The state Assembly speaker on Thursday authorized an impeachment investigation into Cuomo but so far the governor has said he will not resign.