Will Joe Biden slam Andrew Cuomo over sexual assault claims? POTUS once called him 'gold standard' for leadership
President Joe Biden showered praised on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo as the "gold standard" and an "example for all Americans" for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Biden hasn't yet spoken on the multitude of sexual harassment allegations leveled against Cuomo in recent weeks.
Cuomo, who has also been accused of bullying, racism, and sexual assault, denies all wrongdoing and is refusing to leave office despite growing calls to resign from both sides of the political aisle. Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Letitia James is said to be investigating the claims against him.
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The governor is mired in allegations of sexual misconduct, as well as a 'cover-up' of nursing home Covid-19 deaths in his state.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday, March 15 that the allegations against Cuomo were "troubling" but she was waiting to see the outcome of the AG's investigation. According to Psaki, Biden and Cuomo's past friendship won't influence any decisions on the former's future. Last August, Biden received a ringing endorsement from Cuomo at the Democratic National Convention.
The-then future president thanked him for the same. "Andrew Cuomo, thank you for your leadership and the example you've set for all Americans during this pandemic," he tweeted at the time.
.@AndrewCuomo, thank you for your leadership and the example you’ve set for all Americans during this pandemic. #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/Ir11a1vJQs
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 18, 2020
Biden had gushed about Cuomo just months earlier during an appearance on 'The Jimmy Fallon Show'. "Your governor in New York's done one hell of a job," he told Fallon in April. "I think he's the gold standard." Cuomo was repeatedly touted as former President Donald Trump's potential nemesis at the polls and batted away several questions from the press about running for the White House. Cuomo said he firmly backed Biden's candidacy.
It's worth noting that the duo has been friends for years and forged an intimate political alliance. The New York governor flew to Delaware in 2015 to attend Biden's son Beau's funeral. Returning the gesture, Biden attended Cuomo's father Mario's service later that year. The president, however, has now come under increasing pressure to distance himself from the governor amid mounting allegations of sexual misconduct.
Psaki hinted on Monday that Cuomo may soon be stripped of his title within the Governor's Association. However, she did not take a firm position on the issue and said they would await the outcome of the investigation. "It would be up to the NGA to determine if they were to make a change on that front," she told reporters.
Nonetheless, she clarified that Biden wouldn't take a side or any form of action until the probe is concluded. "Our focus from here, from the federal government... is of course supporting that independent investigation, which we adamantly do," Psaki added. Cuomo refused to stand down during a conference call with reporters last week. Instead, he went on to question the motives of his accusers. "What is being alleged just did not happen. The last allegation is not true and I have not had a sexual relationship that was inappropriate period. Ok. Thank you," he said.
"Women have a right to come forward and be heard and I encourage that but I also want to be clear — there is still a question of the truth," Cuomo continued. "I did not do what has been alleged. Period. I won’t speculate about people's possible motives, but I can tell you as a former Attorney General, who's gone through this situation many times, there are often many motivations for making an allegation," he added.