Local, state leaders react to suspension of Cuomo impeachment probe

Rochester, New York — A group of lawmakers in Western New York is against the Assembly Judiciary Committee’s decision to drop its impeachment investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Marjorie Byrnes, Assemblywoman, R-133rd District, is one of the members who was outraged to learn the investigation won’t proceed.

“There were so many crucial issues that people in this state cared so much about and quite frankly I think they deserve to know the truth,” she said.

According to Byrnes, both lawmakers and constituents were hoping the inquiry would uncover whether Cuomo committed any misconduct.

“There were so many important things we were looking at: looking at the nursing home deaths, those 15,000 people that died,” she said. “We were looking at the book deal, whether government employees on the government dime were writing it for the governor.”

Her disappointment was echoed by others across the state.

MORE: Impeachment investigation into Cuomo over

Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-139th District:

”Impartial justice is a founding principle of our constitutional republic, and nobody should be above the law. Our public officials should be held to the highest standards possible, and by ending this impeachment investigation the speaker has denied justice to the people of this state and allowed potentially illegal acts to be swept under the rug.”

New York State Sen. Sean Ryan, D-60th District:

“While I understand the legal argument about the inability to impeach a Governor who has resigned, I do hope that the Assembly, at the very least, releases to the public all the evidence uncovered during their impeachment inquiry. They paid an outside firm, just like the Attorney General did, to conduct an investigation and prepare a report. I think the taxpayers deserve to see what the Assembly has found.”

Sen. Jeremy Cooney, D-56th District:

“I am disappointed to learn that the NYS Assembly is not moving forward with the impeachment of outgoing Governor Andrew Cuomo. His resignation was necessary, but survivors deserve accountability for his sexual harassment and our citizens need answers for thousands of nursing home deaths during the pandemic. New York State’s constitution limits the ability by which the members of the legislature are able to act against a governor who has already vacated their office. Let this be a somber reminder to continually reassess our laws to ensure those who have been granted power by the voters are not able to abuse it. It is my hope we will come together as a state to amend our constitution to continue to increase transparency and hold all elected office holders accountable in New York.”

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, R-62nd District:

“The decision from Assembly Democrats to suspend the impeachment investigation reeks of a shady deal to protect Andrew Cuomo. At any point in the last six months, Democrats could have impeached our now disgraced Governor – but that would’ve required courage. Instead, they stalled and bought Andrew Cuomo all the time in the world, while they wasted millions of taxpayer dollars on their sham investigation. Resignation is not accountability. The Democrats not only failed in their constitutional responsibilities – they failed the Governor’s countless victims in nursing homes, brave women who came forward to tell their stories, and those who believe in honest and transparent government.”

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, R-120 District:

“The decision to drop the impeachment investigation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo is a massive disservice to the goals of transparency and accountability.

Moving forward with the impeachment would have brought a necessary conclusion to an important endeavor and ensured Andrew Cuomo would never be permitted to hold statewide office. Instead, mountains of evidence and months of work will now be hidden from the public by this disappointing, tone-deaf decision.

The Legislature had a chance to deliver accountability and justice to the victims of Andrew Cuomo’s failed administration. Today’s announcement is a slap in the face to the people this body was elected to represent.”

Assemblyman Josh Jensen, R-134th District:

“Today’s announcement that the speaker of the Assembly is suspending the impeachment investigation comes as a disappointment. Since the governor shared the news of his impending resignation, members of the Assembly, from both parties, have been united in the desire to continue the Assembly Judiciary Committee’s impeachment investigation. With the committee investigating not only allegations of sexual harassment and hostile workplace, but also misuse of state resources, actions relating to the state’s nursing homes and structural defects in the Tappan Zee Bridge, the Legislature and the people of the state deserve answers to the wide range of alleged misconduct from the governor’s office. To end the investigation without a resolution or making any of the committee’s findings public is extremely disappointing.”

Sen. Samra Brouk, D-55th District:

“I am incredibly disappointed with the decision to close the impeachment investigation into Andrew Cuomo. The Governor’s resignation was not an act of nobility—it was because he committed unlawful acts and was out of options. Resignation should not preclude him from being impeached or otherwise held accountable. From the very beginning to his final words during his resignation, this Governor has used gaslighting and other tactics to evade responsibility for his horrific actions. We know that based on the findings of the Attorney General’s report, the Governor abused his power and harassed women—several of which were New York State employees. Impeachment or not, we must not forget that he is guilty of these crimes and that survivors deserve justice.”

Bernie Iacovangelo, head of the Monroe County Republican Committee:

“It comes as no surprise that Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and the Democrat Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, Charles Lavine, suspended the impeachment investigation into now disgraced soon-to-be former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Corruption and backroom deals are nothing new in the halls of the State Capitol, and sadly, today is no different. One-party rule has led to this miscarriage of justice. What happens now to the victims of Cuomo’s sexual harassment? What happens now to the families of elderly New Yorkers who were sentenced to death by this Governor? What happens now to our faith and trust in elected leaders who are tasked with acting on our best interests and not special interests? Andrew Cuomo MUST be held accountable. I call on every New Yorker regardless of party affiliation to demand justice and hold their elected leaders accountable for this travesty of justice.”

Nick Langworthy, head of the state GOP:

“The Assembly Democrats’ decision to suspend their impeachment investigation is an outrageous affront to many the victims of Andrew Cuomo’s crimes & all New Yorkers. Carl Heastie, Kathy Hochul, and the rest of the Democrats who consistently enabled & protected Cuomo’s reprehensible actions are covering for him until the bitter end. The taxpayers paid for this investigation and now they must know the facts of not just Andrew Cuomo’s wrongdoing, but those of his senior officials and perhaps other elected officials. We will fight to make every email and document public, while ensuring that every legislative Democrat who contributed to this shameful outcome is held accountable.”

Assemblywoman Sarah Clark, D-136th district:

“I am frustrated by the decision to suspend the Assembly Judiciary Committee’s impeachment investigation into Governor Cuomo. Upon the Governor’s resignation this week, I maintained that impeachment should still seriously be considered given the severity of all the charges facing him, as well as numerous ongoing investigations. Resignation was not a moral consideration, but a political one designed to insulate himself from threats to his pension funds and the possibility of being barred from running for office again in New York. His actions were so severe that I believe more must be done. We owe all New Yorkers answers and full accountability, especially if we will ever change the culture of state government for the better.

New Yorkers deserve to know the full-scope of the Governor’s misconduct, and trust that our government is equipped to address these violations of the public trust. Sexual harassment of 11 women, cover-up of nursing home deaths, and the misuse of state resources are all examples of egregious conduct that could go unchecked. I understand this is unprecedented territory, but I will continue to work with my colleagues in the state legislature to pursue all options, otherwise we set up a dangerous and unfortunate alternative for elected officials staring down potential impeachment. We are sending a signal that resignation is a quick and easy fix to avoid the serious consequences that can arise as part of this process, and a surefire way to evade real responsibility.”