24 July 2021: Assembly Speaker Heastie Draws Rebuke from Lawyer of Alleged Cuomo Sexual Harassment Victim

Comment from Speaker Heastie draws scolding from Cuomo accuser in sexual harassment probe

New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie made a number of statements in reponse to questions from media outlets on Friday, 23 July 2021. One in particular drew a rebuke from the attorney representing once of Andrew M. Cuomo's alleged sexual harassment victims:

In the rare gaggle with reporters, the powerful Democrat and leader of the New York Assembly said this about the status of the Assembly's impeachment probe into Cuomo, which focuses on four scandals involving the state's chief executive.

“I’m awaiting the results of the inquiry just like everyone else,” Heastie said.

And Speaker Heastie responded this way when asked whether results of the Attorney General's sexual harassment probe into Cuomo, expected soon, could cause impeachment efforts to ramp up.

“I believe it should be part of the Assembly's review but I don’t know if the report itself alone without the conclusion of the judiciary committee's work should rise to an action,” Heastie said.

That last statement has provided a firestore, because it indicates Heastie will look the other way at credible sexual harassment allegations to benefit Andrew M. Cuomo. Beth Katz, the attorney for Charlotte Bennett, the second woman to come forward to publicly accuse Cuomo of sexual harrassment, quickly issued a rebuke via Twitter:

Debra S. Katz Statement on Recent Statement from New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie pic.twitter.com/h2Uihjj0DR

— Debra Katz (@DebraKatzKMB) July 23, 2021

Here's the main excerpt criticizing Heastie's comment:

“The Assembly Speaker’s comments today are alarming and outrageous. Speaker Heastie has made clear that he will actively obstruct efforts to hold Governor Cuomo responsible even if, as we expect will be the case, the Attorney General’s investigators substantiate the multiple allegations of sexual harassment levied against the Governor by Ms. Bennett and the other complainants. Speaker Heastie’s statement is a betrayal of the duties of his office and demonstrates that his loyalty is to Governor Cuomo, and not to either the rule of law or to the women who have been victimized by the Governor in clear violation of the law.”

At a minimum, Heastie's comment directly conflicts with his demand to have the same deference provided to actual law enforcement agencies for the time to conduct real criminal investigations that could result in a conviction that would not be tossed out on appeal while not holding the same ethical standards of conduct they require.

At worst, it suggests "the fix is in", where he's sending a message to his followers to get on board with a predetermined outcome that favors Governor Cuomo regardless of any findings reported by New York's State Attorney General.

We'll feature additional analysis of Heastie's seemingly predetermined dismissal of sexual harassment allegations involving Governor Cuomo in a separate timeline entry.