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Who is Elise Stefanik? NY GOP Rep cashes in on Andrew Cuomo sex harassment row by selling 'worst US guv' merch

The New York Rep sell t-shirts and mugs with the tagline 'WANTED - worst Governor in America' for $25 each

New York Rep Elise Stefanik has found an interesting way to cash in on Governor Andrew Cuomo's sexual harassment scandal. Apart from calling for the Governor to step down, she has also begun selling 'worst governor in America' merchandise on her website. You can now buy a t-shirt and mug with Cuomo's face and the tagline for $25 each. Stefanik is one of the eight Republican members of the House from New York.

Cuomo's fall from grace has only gotten worse after 14 of the 19 Democratic Representatives called for his resignation. New York's Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have also backed Cuomo's resignation, making it increasingly hard for him to survive politically. Right now, Cuomo has been accused of harassment by seven women and is under investigation by the state's Attorney General as well as the FBI. 

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Stefanik is currently serving her fourth term in Congress and was one of the first members of Congress to call on Cuomo to resign. In early February, she issued a statement calling him a "criminal sexual predator".

Who is Elise Stefanik?

Rep Stefanik (R- Glen Falls) has been serving New York's 21st district since 2015. In 2014, she became the youngest woman elected to Congress at the age of 30. Stefanik is a known ally of Trump, voting against his impeachment and even voted to overturn Pennsylvania's electoral college votes. She currently sits on the House Armed Services and Education committees and is also a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. 

Born in Albany, New York, Stefanik graduated from Harvard in 2006 with a degree in Government. She then joined the George W Bush administration, serving on the Domestic Policy Council Staff and in the Office of the Chief of Staff. In 2012, she also served as the Director of Vice-Presidential Debate Prep to Paul Ryan, who was running with Mitt Romney against Obama. 

Since 2014, she has been in Congress from the strongly Republican seat on Glen Falls. She is well known for her advocacy for Fort Drumm, the military installation in Watertown. She was successful in sparing the base from its planned 40,000 troop cut, down to just 28.

Following the January 6 insurrection, Harvard University removed Stefanik from its Institute of Politics, as well as her role in the school's Senior Advisory Committee.

Cashing in on Cuomo's scandal

On March 12, Stefanik put out a tweet highlighting the new merchandise available on her 'Elise for Congress' storefront. The wanted poster-style t-shirts and mugs are just one of the many anti-Cuomo products available. Shoppers can also pick up a 'Cuomo's gotta go' sticker, 'Impeach Cuomo' hat, and can coolers. 

The Republican party has been quick to call out Cuomo, pressuring him to resign. However, Democrats including President Joe Biden have defended him. Now, Cuomo seems to have lost support, with many prominent Democrats like Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Jerry Nadler, Jamaal Bowman and others pressuring him to step down. To make matters worse, Cuomo is also facing an investigation into the underreporting of deaths in nursing homes in the state.