Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York will be facing an impeachment inquiry for multiple scandals that have plagued his third term in office. Cuomo has refused to resign from office despite multiple allegations of sexual harassment and falsifying death reports for nursing home patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

       Lawmakers of New York released a letter signed by 19 state Senators and 40 state Assembly members. It read, “In light of the Governor’s admission of inappropriate behavior and the findings of altered data on nursing home COVID-19 deaths he has lost the confidence of the public and the state legislature, rendering him ineffective in this time of most urgent need,” it continues, “It is time for Governor Cuomo to resign.” 

       Sexual Harassment Allegations

       As of now, seven allegations of inappropriate behavior by Cuomo have surfaced. The latest allegation came on Mar. 12 from a former statehouse reporter, Jessica Bakeman. She details on a self-written article on Intelligencer her multiple uncomfortable encounters with him. In one encounter, he belittled her in front of her male colleagues by holding her inappropriately in front of them while asking her, “I’m sorry. Am I making you uncomfortable? I thought we were going steady.” 

       Charlotte Bennett, a health policy advisor and executive assistant for Cuomo in 2019 also accused him of harassment. She claims he had an inappropriate conversation with her about her sex life. He told Bennett he was lonely and comfortable with sleeping with younger women such as herself. Bennett also accused his office director at the time, Stephanie Benton, of completing online sexual harassment training for him. Benton has denied the allegation. 

       Nursing Home Scandal

       According to a report released by New York Attorney General Letitia James, Cuomo’s administration falsified COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.

       The investigation began when the New York Post leaked an audio recording of Melissa DeRosa, one of Cuomo’s aides, speaking on his behalf to the New York State Democratic Committee. She said Cuomo was sorry for releasing incorrect COVID-19 death counts. He believed it was necessary so the Trump administration would not gain the upper hand in the 2020 presidential election.

       Undercounted were half of New York’s nursing home deaths. CNN reported in other cases numbers changed by a group of Cuomo’s aides including DeRosa. When the report was made Cuomo said, “I accept responsibility for that. I am in charge…We should have provided more information faster. We were too focused on doing the job and addressing the crisis of the moment