Joe Biden calls for Andrew Cuomo to resign after sexual harassment probe

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By VT

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Joe Biden has called for Andrew Cuomo to resign after a sexual harassment probe claimed that he harassed 11 women.

The president told reporters at the White House, per CNBC: "He should resign."

When asked if he could be forcibly removed from his position if he chooses not to resign, the POTUS said: "I understand the state legislature may decide to impeach, I do not know that for a fact."

New York State House Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat, said after the president's remarks that the house is planning to finish its impeachment inquiry into Cuomo quickly.

Watch a full news report about the probe below: 

CNBC reports that in calling for Cuomo's resignation, the president has echoed the sentiment of almost every other major Democratic lawmaker in both Albany and Washington.

State Attorney General Letitia James summarised the report released on Tuesday, August 4, by saying that Cuomo "sexually harassed multiple women, and in doing so violated federal and state law."

Cuomo, however, has denied some of the allegations made against him and claimed that they were mischaracterized or misinterpreted.

The 165-page report into Cuomo's behavior consists of interviews with 179 witnesses as well as a review of tens of thousands of documents.

It found that there was a culture of fear and intimidation in his office, which created a hostile working environment for his staff.

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Credit: Alamy / Brazil Photo Press

According to the report, the women who have accused Cuomo of sexual harassment include members of his own staff, members of the public, and other state employees including a state trooper.

Biden's statement that Cuomo should step down echoes what he said in March about the report.

"I think he'll probably end up being prosecuted, too," Biden told ABC News in a March 16 interview of the then unconfirmed allegations against Cuomo.

The White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the office was sending solidarity to all women who "have lived through this type of experience... deserve to be treated with respect and dignity."

"I don't know that anyone could have watched [James' press conference] this morning and not found the allegations to be abhorrent - I know I certainly did," Psaki said.

Featured image credit: Alamy / Newscom