Cuomo cautions against ‘faith in anything’ uncovered by AG James’ sexual harassment probe

Cuomo cautions against ‘faith in anything’ uncovered by AG James’ sexual harassment probe
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Gov. Cuomo sowed doubt Monday about the integrity of Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct, claiming New Yorkers and legislators shouldn’t necessarily have “faith” in her findings.

Cuomo offered the vague aspersion after being asked by a reporter if members of the Assembly should take the attorney general’s findings at face value amid rumors that she’s considering a run against the governor in next year’s primary.

“I’m not telling anyone to have faith in anything,” Cuomo said in a briefing at his Midtown Manhattan office. “Everybody makes their own decisions.”

Cuomo also upped the ante by firmly rejecting the idea that he’d resign if James’ inquiry substantiates the sexual misconduct accusations against him.

“I did nothing wrong, period, and I’m not resigning, and I’m doing my job every day,” Cuomo said.

Assembly members, who have launched an impeachment investigation into Cuomo over the sexual harassment claims, are likely to give James’ findings significant weight as they consider whether to initiate removal proceedings.

It’s unclear how long it will take James’ office to conclude the probe. A spokesman for the AG declined to comment Monday.

James, whose successful 2018 AG campaign was endorsed by Cuomo, has tapped a former Manhattan federal prosecutor and an anti-discrimination attorney to lead the inquiry into allegations that the governor sexually harassed 10 women, several of whom are current or former staffers.

The most serious accusation comes from an as-of-yet unidentified current staffer, who says the governor groped her breast after summoning her to the Executive Mansion in Albany late last year to assist him with his cell phone.

Despite now casting doubt over James’ investigation, Cuomo explicitly asked the AG to launch the probe in March after several accusers came forward. Last month, Cuomo lauded James as a “very competent” investigator who should be allowed to “do her job.”

Cuomo is separately facing a Justice Department investigation over allegations that his administration covered up the number of COVID-19 deaths in New York nursing homes.

The Assembly is considering those allegations as part of its impeachment probe as well, but Cuomo on Monday reiterated his belief that the nursing home scandal was manufactured by former President Donald Trump.

“That was a political investigation started by Donald Trump, who politicized not just COVID, but nursing homes and policies toward nursing homes,” Cuomo said.