President Joe Biden on Sunday broke his silence on the sexual misconduct scandal plaguing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Responding to a question about whether the embattled governor should immediately resign, Biden noted that an investigation is underway and that the public should wait for its outcome.
"I think the investigation is underway and we should see what it brings us," Biden told reporters at the White House. His statement represents his first comments on the mounting controversy.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in a statement late Friday urged Cuomo to resign, arguing the governor has lost the confidence of his "governing partners and the people of New York" amid this controversy.
“Confronting and overcoming the COVID crisis requires sure and steady leadership. We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct. Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign,” the two lawmakers said in a statement.
Biden's comments echo remarks made by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) this week who called the accusations "credible and serious," but stop short of calling for Cuomo's resignation.
"The governor should look inside his heart, he loves New York, to see if he can govern effectively," Pelosi said on ABC's This Week.
In response to the pressure, Cuomo described himself as a political outsider, while urging the public to wait for the investigation to conclude.
The governor said that it’s “politicians who don’t know a single fact but yet form a conclusion and an opinion” who are calling on him to resign, describing such prospects as “reckless and dangerous.” He added: “Let the review proceed, I’m not going to resign, I was not elected by the politicians, I was elected by the people.”
“I am not part of the political club, and you know what? I am proud of it,” Cuomo said. “I have been in the public eye my entire life. My entire life I have been under public scrutiny, since I was 23 years old and ran my father’s campaign. New Yorkers know me. Wait for the facts.”