Sen. Rachel May calls for Cuomo’s resignation, joining more Democrats calling

Syracuse, N.Y. — Sen. Rachel May, D-Syracuse, today joined the growing number of Democrats calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign amid accusations of harassment and mishandling of Covid-19 nursing home data.

“I, too, stand with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins in calling on the governor to resign,” May tweeted this afternoon.

May, in her second term, joins at least a dozen other Democratic senators calling on Cuomo to resign. A handful spoke out earlier this week. They were reacting to claims of the governor’s inappropriate behavior with women he’s worked with and actions by his administration that didn’t provide a complete look at how many people in nursing homes died of Covid-19.

Today, that chorus grew louder. In a 1 p.m. conference call with reporters, Cuomo said he wouldn’t resign without knowing the findings of an investigation into the harassment claims. That investigation is being overseen by Attorney General Letitia James.

About two hours later, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said the governor must step down for the good of the state. She’s the highest ranking Democrat in New York to call for Cuomo’s resignation.

Other prominent Democrats, including Sen. Liz Krueger and Sen. Michael Gianaris, followed.

Cuomo and his staff have denied any wrongdoing, both in the harassment accusations and the handling of nursing home data. Cuomo has said he often hugs and kisses people in friendly greetings. He said his talk with staffers about their romantic relationships was meant to be banter, not intimidation.

At the same time, Cuomo is facing criticism and a federal inquiry into his handling of data about Covid-19 nursing home deaths. The New York Times reported last week the Cuomo administration altered a state report about those deaths last summer. A state lawyer who works for Cuomo, Beth Garvey, said in a statement that data was omitted from the July report after the state’s Department of Health “could not confirm it had been adequately verified.”

In response, May said anyone who lied about the report — including Cuomo — should resign.

May is the chair of the Senate’s Aging Committee, a role that includes shaping policies dealing with nursing homes and their staff. She’s pushed this year for nursing home residents to be able to designate a caretaker, such as a family member, to enter nursing homes following Covid-19 precautions, as staff do.

That role as committee chair put her in the spotlight last month when Republican senators tried to get the committee to open the door for subpoenas into Cuomo’s handling of nursing home data. At the time, May blocked the effort.

Since more revelations about how Cuomo and his staff withheld nursing home information. her criticism of the governor has intensified.

The Cuomo team’s habit of “keeping their cards close to the vest’’ has eroded the public trust to the point where the state Legislature should hold hearings to investigate their actions and clear the air, May said in February.

This is a breaking story. It will be updated.

Got a story idea or news tip you’d like to share with a Syracuse-area reporter? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.