The women who have accused Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual misconduct “should be taken seriously,” President Biden said in a new interview — but cautioned there should be an investigation before demands are made for his resignation.
Biden’s sit-down with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos — who grilled him on whether Cuomo should resign amid the allegations — aired Wednesday morning on “Good Morning America.”
“A woman should be presumed telling the truth and should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forward,” Biden said. “But there should be an investigation to determine whether what she says is true.”
Seven women have now come forward claiming Cuomo touched them inappropriately or sexual harassed them. One former aide accused him of groping her under her shirt in the Governor’s Mansion.
“It takes a lot of courage for a woman to come forward,” the president said. “Some are not– anyway. It takes a lot of courage to come forward. So, the presumption is they should be taken seriously. And it should be investigated. And that’s what’s underway now.”
In the same interview, most of which was teased Tuesday night, Biden refused to say whether Cuomo should resign immediately.
“If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?” Stephanopoulos asked.
“Yes, I think he’ll probably end up being prosecuted too,” the president says.
Biden also said Democratic leaders in New York, like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who have called on Cuomo to step down, should make a “judgement” on “whether he can be effective.”
Cuomo has denied touching anyone inappropriately and said he would cooperate with the ongoing investigation by New York Attorney General Tish James.
