NEW YORK (AP) — Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced Saturday that he’s working for mayor of New York Metropolis, relaunching his political profession following a yearslong exile over a barrage of sexual harassment accusations.
In a 17-minute video, Cuomo pitched himself as an achieved reasonable who can save a metropolis he described as threatening and “uncontrolled,” and is able to navigating the fragile stability between working with Republican President Donald Trump and preventing him, when obligatory.
“I’m not saying that is going to be simple. It gained’t be simple, however I do know we will flip the town round, and I consider I will help,” he mentioned.
The Democrat is anticipated to mount a formidable marketing campaign, regardless of coming into the race deeply wounded by the scandal that forced his resignation as governor in 2021.
He takes on a big subject of major opponents with low title recognition plus an incumbent, Mayor Eric Adams, who — for now — remains under indictment on federal corruption fees and beneath scrutiny from critics who query his independence from Trump.
AP correspondent Julie Walker reviews former Gov. Andrew Cuomo launches his political comeback with a run for New York Metropolis mayor.
Cuomo brings fundraising prowess, a report of accomplishments over three phrases as governor and potential help amongst reasonable voters who helped propel Adams to workplace.
But it’s unclear whether or not voters are keen to offer Cuomo one other probability following his outstanding downfall, when he went from being hailed for his management through the onslaught of COVID-19 to being castigated for his habits with ladies and questioned about his pandemic response.
In his marketing campaign video, Cuomo acknowledged previous “errors” however didn’t straight deal with the harassment allegations.
“Did I at all times do all the pieces proper in my years of presidency service? After all not,” he mentioned. “Would I do some issues otherwise figuring out what I do know now — definitely. Did I make errors, some painfully? Positively, and I consider I discovered from them and that I’m a greater individual for it, and I hope to indicate that on daily basis.”
Adams, caught on a metropolis avenue by a Politico reporter Saturday, welcomed Cuomo to the race.
“Come one, come all. All people ought to put their place ahead,” Adams mentioned. “I’ve an excellent report to run on. We look ahead to the marketing campaign.”
Plotting a comeback
Cuomo had been circling a return to politics for years whereas his attorneys and political consultants saved making an attempt to discredit his accusers.
At the least 11 ladies credibly accused him of harassment that included undesirable kissing and touching and remarks about their seems to be and intercourse lives, according to a report launched by New York’s legal professional normal. One aide filed a legal criticism accusing Cuomo of grabbing her breast after they had been alone within the governor’s mansion.
Cuomo denied the sexual assault allegation, which a prosecutor ultimately dropped, citing a scarcity of sufficient proof to get a conviction.
Cuomo, 67, mentioned he didn’t deliberately mistreat ladies and had merely fallen behind the occasions of what was thought of acceptable office conduct.
Taxpayers spent thousands and thousands of {dollars} defending him and his aides towards lawsuits associated to the allegations.
The primary lady to publicly accuse Cuomo of harassment, Lindsey Boylan, wrote in an essay printed in Self-importance Truthful on Saturday that New York “deserves higher.”
She mentioned that quite than repent and atone, Cuomo has waged a “vengeful” authorized marketing campaign towards his accusers.
“Whereas the ladies who labored for and with Cuomo could now not be topic to inappropriate habits, misconduct, or sexual harassment, a few of us stay the victims of what may very well be interpreted as an ongoing marketing campaign that weaponizes the authorized system as a tactic for retribution,” Boylan wrote.
She added that despite the fact that she by no means sued Cuomo, she has spent $1.5 million on attorneys to reply to subpoenas in his different instances.
A crowded Democratic major
There are already a number of candidates vying to beat Adams in June.
Amongst them are metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and former metropolis Comptroller Scott Stringer, who was a front-runner within the mayor’s race 4 years in the past till a girl accused him of groping and kissing her with out her consent 20 years earlier.
In an announcement, Ramos known as Cuomo a “corrupt bully” who “brings nothing to this race however baggage.”
Myrie mentioned New York shouldn’t be pressured to relive “the Andrew Cuomo present.”
“We deserve higher than egocentric leaders who spent a long time in workplace placing their need for energy above New Yorkers’ wants,” Myrie mentioned.
Adams is a weak incumbent
The mayor is going through a tempest over the U.S. Justice Division’s extraordinary effort to finish the legal case towards him over the objection of the prosecutors who introduced the costs.
An indictment mentioned Adams accepted luxurious journey perks and unlawful marketing campaign contributions from individuals who wished to purchase his affect, together with a Turkish official and different overseas nationals.
After Trump took workplace, a high Justice Division official ordered prosecutors to dismiss the costs so Adams may give attention to aiding the president’s immigration agenda, whereas leaving open the chance that fees may very well be refiled after the election.
The dynamic led critics to say that Adams struck a deal to assist Trump’s immigration crackdown in trade for authorized salvation.
Adams has strongly denied such an arrangement, whereas resisting intense stress to step down. A few of his high deputies introduced plans to resign in protest.
Lengthy rise to energy, fast fall
Cuomo began in politics working for his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, and later turned U.S. housing secretary beneath President Invoice Clinton and New York legal professional normal earlier than being elected governor in 2010.
His star energy was highest through the pandemic, when his televised each day briefings attracted admirers who noticed him as a gradual hand throughout a daunting time. The briefings led to a greater than $5 million ebook deal to write down “American Disaster: Management Classes From the Covid-19 Pandemic.”
However ladies started coming ahead in late 2020 and early 2021 to accuse Cuomo of misconduct, and he confronted a possible impeachment earlier than stepping down. A state ethics panel concluded that he improperly used taxpayer sources to arrange and edit his ebook.
Questions on COVID-19 in nursing properties
Cuomo was additional broken by allegations that his administration unintentionally contributed to a wave of COVID-19 deaths in nursing properties by initially barring them from refusing to readmit virus sufferers discharged from hospitals.
The governor mentioned the allegations had been baseless, however his administration was discovered to have considerably undercounted nursing home deaths because it sought to deflect criticism.
Cuomo nonetheless has a big marketing campaign warfare chest that, technically, he may draw on. However the technique of transferring state donations to a metropolis committee can be difficult and require every donor to log off, a probably burdensome effort.
