Bill de Blasio Thinks Gov. Cuomo Needs to Resign and Be Criminally Charged, Expects Impeachment if He Refuses

Following the announcement yesterday by New York’s Democratic Attorney General Letitia James that sexual harassment claims against Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) had merit, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) demanded that Cuomo resign.

The mayor took it a step further today and said that the embattled governor needs to be criminally charged as well and that he expects impeachment if he refuses.

When asked on “CBS This Morning” if the Democratic chief executive should be charged criminally, de Blasio responded, “If you assault a woman, you do something against her will sexually, that’s criminal.”

On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” de Blasio explained, “I think, ultimately, he will have to resign, either because of a prosecution, wherein he makes some deal around giving up his office, or because an impeachment is imminent.”

Following the announcement, Cuomo has been defiant and in a bizarre pre-recorded video yesterday, he denied wrongdoing and said he wouldn’t resign.

Cuomo also claimed that he felt some of his sexual harassment was in fact misinterpreted by women staff members due to cultural and generational divides between the parties.

De Blasio scoffed at the defense during his CBS interview and explained, “Putting your hand up a woman’s shirt and touching her breast is not generational.”

“I know plenty of guys who are older who would never in a million years do that. Talking to 20-something year-old woman, asking if they’d date an older guy, and then leering at them — this is not acceptable behavior,” de Blasio added.

The New York Post also reported that de Blasio said “The Albany County District Attorney’s looking at that, and I think he should be charged.”

From The New York Post:

De Blasio’s answer came after Albany County District Attorney David Soares said Tuesday that his office is opening a criminal investigation into Cuomo, after a report released by James concluded that he sexually harassed 11 women, violating state and federal law.

“We are conducting our own separate investigation,” Soares said on “NBC Nightly News.”

Statement released yesterday by de Blasio:

“My first thoughts are with the women who were subject to this abhorrent behavior, and their bravery in stepping forward to share their stories. The Attorney General’s detailed and thorough report substantiates many disturbing instances of severe misconduct. Andrew Cuomo committed sexual assault and sexual harassment, and intimidated a whistleblower. It is disqualifying.

“It is beyond clear that Andrew Cuomo is not fit to hold office and can no longer serve as Governor. He must resign, and if he continues to resist and attack the investigators who did their jobs, he should be impeached immediately.”