The New York State Assembly will issue a final report on its investigation into outgoing Gov. Andrew Cuomo despite his resignation, The New York Times reports.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced last week that the chamber would close its impeachment investigation after Cuomo announced he would resign following a damning 165-page report issued by New York Attorney General Letitia James detailing sexual harassment and misconduct allegations from 11 women.
But Heastie came under swift blowback from fellow Democrats over the weekend and had a change of heart, informing members on Sunday that the Judiciary Committee would issue a final report on its investigation.
The reversal does not mean that lawmakers will still impeach Cuomo, however. Heastie pointed to a six-page legal memo last week arguing that the assembly did not have the constitutional authority to impeach a governor who is out of office.
Final report coming:
Democrats and Republicans called to continue the impeachment or at least release the investigation’s findings.
“The Assembly Judiciary Committee will continue to review evidence and issue a final report on its investigation of Governor Cuomo,” Heastie and Judiciary Chairman Charles Lavine said in a statement on Monday.
The lawmakers said that the committee would “take all appropriate steps to ensure that this effort does not interfere with various ongoing investigations.”
But it remains unclear when the final report may be issued.
Wide-ranging investigation:
The impeachment probe looked at the sexual harassment allegations against the governor as well as potential abuse of power.
The impeachment probe involves numerous issues that are being investigated by prosecutors as well.
At least five local prosecutors in New York are investigating the allegations in James’ report.
The Justice Department is also investigating Cuomo’s handling of nursing homes during the pandemic.
James’ office is still investigating whether Cuomo used state resources to publish his pandemic memoir, which earned him over $5 million.
