10 politicians who backed Andrew Cuomo's resignation as governor now endorse his NYC mayoral bid in shocking about-face
Good riddance, Gov. Cuomo! We want you, Mayor Cuomo!
More than one-third of elected officials who've endorsed Andrew Cuomo's bid for mayor thus far previously demanded or welcomed his resignation as governor following his dueling sexual misconduct and COVID nursing home death scandals.
In perhaps the most backward development of the New York City mayoral race, 10 of the 28 elected officials who have thrown their support behind the embattled ex-governor once wanted him out of public office.
The eyebrow-raising flip-flop — which includes women in elected office — has turned the Me Too Movement on its head.
'Electeds' support for Cuomo is a slap-in-the-face betrayal to government workers everywhere, including their own staff. It's cowardly for anyone who rightfully spoke up against Cuomo four years ago to now say 'Ho hum, second chances, let the voters decide, etc.,'' said Erica Vladimer, founder of the Sexual Harassment Working Group, which fought harassment against legislative staffers.
Several elected officials had issued statements slamming Cuomo, but have a made a complete about-face now that the Democrat's running for mayor.
Queens state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky is among those who urged Cuomo to step down as governor — only to turn around and endorse him for mayor.
'It is clear that there is a pattern of unacceptable and troubling behavior. The governor should resign or face impeachment,' Stavisky said on Aug. 3, 2021.
Her statement came out after a devastating report commissioned by state Attorney General Letitia James substantiated harassment claims leveled against Cuomo by a slew of women.
Cuomo has denied the harassment accusations from female staffers and other women, including a state trooper.
Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who is the Brooklyn Democratic Party chairwoman, is now among Cuomo's biggest boosters.
But she previously said Cuomo's 'resignation was in the interest of the people of this state. In this disquieting time, there is some relief in seeing repercussions for Cuomo's shameful conduct.'
Brooklyn Councilwoman Farah Louis, another Cuomo mayoral endorser, also had welcomed his resignation.
'Governor Cuomo's actions were deeply wrong. His decision to resign was the right one as it was clear that he could no longer lead New York State effectively,' Louis said in a statement on Aug. 11, 2021.
Likewise, state Senator James Sanders said, 'I am calling on Governor Cuomo to resign' after James' report, but has since endorsed the ex-governor for mayor.
Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres said at the time that Cuomo's 'resignation is in the best interest of New York State.' But when he was one of the first big endorsers for Cuomo in February, he said he didn't want to 'relitigate the past.'
'I predict the comeback story of the 2025 election will be the resurrection of Andrew Cuomo,' Torres said. 'America loves a comeback, New York loves a comeback.'
Rep. Gregory Meeks, the Queens Democratic leader and current Cuomo backer, co-signed a statement on Aug. 3, 2021 that said, 'The time has come for Governor Andrew Cuomo to do the right thing for the people of New York State and resign.'
Another endorser, state Sen Joe Addabbo (D-Queens) said simply, ' Governor Cuomo made the correct decision in stepping down from his position.'
Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Queens), who has also endorsed Cuomo, said at the time, 'The troubling allegations would probably have resulted in articles of impeachment had the Governor not resigned on August 10th, effective August 24th.'
Meanwhile, Ed Braunstein, another Queens assemblyman in the Cuomo camp, said, 'The Governor's resignation ends a difficult and painful chapter in our state's history and is in the best interest of New Yorkers.'
But Cuomo's campaign claimed he has been vindicated.
The cases of accusations leveled against the ex-governor by plaintiffs in court — regarding sexual misconduct or his nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic — were either closed by prosecutors for lack of evidence, or were dismissed or not proven thus far in civil court.
'New York is in crisis – a crisis of affordability, of quality of life, and of leadership and Governor Cuomo is the only person in this race with the proven track record of results to tackle these issues head on, which is why he has built a broad coalition of support that reflects our great city and is leading in every borough, and with every race and gender, and those who represent them and with organized labor,' said Cuomo campaign spokesman Richard Azzopardi.
'Since the beginning, we said all of this was political and wasn't going anywhere, and four years later that has all borne out.'
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