[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M DAN CLARK.

WHEN GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO TOOK OFFICE TEN YEARS AGO, HE SAID HE WOULD CLEAN UP ALBANY.

THAT LASTED A FEW YEARS UNTIL AN ETHICS COMMISSION THAT HE CREATED STARTED INVESTIGATING THINGS THAT CUOMO DID NOT WANT INVESTIGATED LIKE SOME OF HIS CLOSEST ALLIES AND SINCE THEN, HE'S DONE LITTLE TO ADDRESS MISCONDUCT IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

FAST FORWARD TO NOW AND CUOMO'S FOUND HIMSELF IN SEVERAL CONTROVERSIES INCLUDING HIS OWN ETHICS, LIKE CLAIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, HIS HANDLING OF NURSING HOMES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND MORE.

AND THAT ALL CAME TO A HEAD THIS WEEK WHEN CUOMO ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION WHILE AGAIN DENYING THAT HE HAD DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

>> IN MY MIND, I NEVER CROSSED THE LINE WITH ANYONE.

BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE LINE HAS BEEN REDRAWN.

>> AND THAT'S OPENED THE DOOR FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL TO STEP IN.

HOCHUL WILL BE THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE AS GOVERNOR IN STATE HISTORY AND SHE ALREADY HAS A TRACK RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

WE'LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT HOCHUL A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE SHOW.

BUT DURING HER FIRST REMARKS SINCE CUOMO ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION, HOCHUL MADE CLEAR THAT, FOR ONE, SHE HASN'T BEEN CLOSE WITH CUOMO FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND FOR TWO, THAT HER ADMINISTRATION WOULD LOOK VERY DIFFERENT.

>> NO ONE WHO IS NAMED AS DOING ANYTHING UNETHICAL IN THE REPORT REMAIN IN MY ADMINISTRATION.

I AM GOING TO STAND RIGHT HERE AT THE END OF MY TERM, WHENEVER IT ENDS, NO ONE WILL EVER DESCRIBE MY ADMINISTRATION AS A TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT.

>> THAT MIGHT NOT BE TEMPORARY.

HOCHUL SAID THE NEXT DAY THAT SHE PLANS TO RUN FOR A FULL TERM OF GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR.

>> I AM THE MOST PREPARED PERSON TO ASSUME THIS RESPONSIBILITY.

I'M GOING TO ASK THE VOTERS AT SOME POINT FOR THEIR FAITH IN ME AGAIN.

RIGHT NOW, I NEED THEIR FAITH.

I NEED THEIR PRAYERS.

I NEED THEIR SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS REPORT >> THERE ARE NOW A LOT OF OPEN QUESTIONS AND A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

LET'S GET INTO IT WITH KAREN DEWITT FROM NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO AND JON CAMPBELL FROM THE "USA TODAY" NETWORK.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE >> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>> IT'S BEEN A WEEK.

I KNOW IT'S TWO WEEKS.

I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL EXHAUSTED.

>> A YEAR AND A HALF HONESTLY.

>> IT'S PROBABLY BEEN THE MOST INTENSE TIME IN MY CAREER EVEN SURPASSING WHEN ELIOT SPITZER RESIGNED AND WAS REPLACED BY DAVID PATTERSON BECAUSE THIS SEEMED TO DRAG OUT EVEN LONGER.

IT'S REALLY BEEN SOMETHING.

>> I DO WONDER WHAT THE IMPETUS OF HIS RESIGNATION WAS.

AFTER THE A.G.'S REPORT, HE TOOK A FEW DAYS AND THEN A WEEK LATER, I THINK WE WERE-- I WAS, AT LEAST, I WAS SURPRISED THAT HE RESIGNED.

KAREN, I WANT TO GO TO YOU FIRST.

>> YEAH.

>> DURING THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH, IT WAS 20 MINUTES LONG, WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED FROM WATCHING AT HOME OR READING THE NEWSPAPER >> WHAT STOOD OUT FOR ME.

YOU ALL KNOW ME AS A FIGHTER.

MY INSTINCT IS TO FIGHT AND THAT'S WHEN I KNEW, OH, MY GOD, HE'S RESIGNING.

THAT WASN'T CLEAR.

THIS WAS PRECEDE ID BY HIS LAWYER PICKING APART THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT PIECE BY PIECE BY PIECE.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> HE CAME ON AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT HOW THE REPORT WAS ALL POLITICS AND HE WAS A VICTIM.

I THOUGHT, OH, BOY, HE'S GONNA FIGHT.

THIS IS GONNA GO ON-- >> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

>> PROBABLY UNTIL THE EVE OF ASSEMBLY DRAFTING ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, WHICH IS THE TRACK THAT THEY WERE HEADED.

>> I GUESS ON MONDAY, WAY, WAY BACK ON MONDAY, CARL HEASTIE SAID I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY DEALS WITH THE GOVERNOR.

I LOOKED LIKE IMPEACHMENT WAS GOING THROUGH AND HIS TOP AIDE, MELISSA DEROSA RESIGNED SUNDAY NIGHT AND THE GOVERNOR WHO DID WANT TO FIGHT ON REALIZED IT WASN'T GONNA WORK.

>> THE DOMINOES CERTAINLY FELL.

>> IT WAS GOING TO GET WORSE EVERY DAY.

>> JON, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS-- I THINK A LOT OF NEW YORKERS SAW CLIPS OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH OR MAYBE SAW THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH IN FULL.

LIKE KAREN SAID, IT WAS PRECEDED BY A HALF HOUR OF HIS ATTORNEY BY NAME CALLING OUT THE ACCUSERS AND YOU KNOW PICKING APART THEIR STORIES HERE AND THERE.

THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MEMBERS OF PRESS CERTAINLY WATCHED.

IT WAS-- YOU KNOW, CNN HAD A HEADLINE OUT THERE THAT SAID ANDREW CUOMO DOES THE LEAST ANDREW CUOMO THING IN THE MOST ANDREW CUOMO WAY.

[LAUGHTER] I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD WAY OF DISTILLING IT.

BECAUSE HE WAS RESIGNING.

HE KIND OF SORT OF APOLOGIZED.

BUT HE ALSO WANTED EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE, HE WAS GETTING RAILROADED HERE.

I CAN'T DO MATH IN THIS MOMENT.

THERE'S THIS OPEN QUESTION NOW BECAUSE THE ASSEMBLY HAD DONE-- STARTED THE IMPEACHMENT PROBE.

SO THERE'S QUESTION NOW IS CAN THEY WHEN THEY LEAVE OFFICE, DO THEY HAVE TO DO IT BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE?

I ASKED ASSEMBLY MEMBER CHUCK LAVINE WHO IS CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ABOUT THIS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A MONTH AGO AT THIS POINT.

HERE'S WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THAT.

>> DAN, THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION.

WE MAY VERY WELL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT, AND I WOULDN'T DISCOUNT THAT FOR A MOMENT.

BUT THE END RESULT WOULD BE BECAUSE HE'S ALREADY OUT OF OFFICE AND IMPEACHMENT ITSELF IS GOING TO BE MOOT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE MEANINGFUL, BUT THERE WOULD BE THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE COURT OF IMPEACHMENT TO PROHIBIT HIM FROM EVER AGAIN OCCUPYING STATEWIDE OFFICE.

>> SO KAREN, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

DO YOU THINK THE ASSEMBLY'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT?

DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET INTO LEGAL TROUBLE?

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ROADS WE CAN TAKE HERE.

>> I THINK THEY'RE REALLY AGONIZING OVER THIS DECISION.

I THINK IT COULD REFLECT BADLY ON THEM IF THEY JUST DROP IT NOW AFTER THEY WERE SO SERIOUS JUST ON MONDAY.

LOOKING INTO ALL THESE VARIOUS ALLEGATIONS, IT'S NOT JUST THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

IT'S HIS BOOK DEAL.

IT'S THE NURSING HOME POLICY.

CERTAINLY, I HOPE IF THEY GATHERED ANY GOOD EVIDENCE AND THEY DON'T GO THROUGH IMPEACHMENT, THEY WOULD HAND IT TO THE FOUR OR FIVE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IN THE STATE AND THEY'RE INVESTIGATING VARIOUS ALLEGATIONS OR TO THE FEDS WHO ARE INVESTIGATING THE NURSING HOME POLICY.

YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, IF THEY DO GO THROUGH IT, IT WOULD BE A MAJOR DISTRACTION FOR THE NEW GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL.

RIGHT?

THERE'S A LEGAL QUESTION OF CAN THEY NOT.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL QUESTION IS CAUGHT UP ON TWO WORDS, ELECTED OFFICIAL.

THAT'S IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

IMPEACHMENT OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

BUT I WOULD ARGUE THAT THEY KIND OF HAD THE SAME QUESTION WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS BEING IMPEACHED LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.

>> NOPE.

IT WAS ACTUALLY THIS YEAR.

>> I REMEMBER THAT HAPPENING SO QUICK.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE TEN YEARS AGO.

YEAH.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THERE WITH IMPEACHMENT, IT'S BEEN USED SO RARELY IN NEW YORK STATE THAT THERE'S NO LEGAL PRECEDENT.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE LEGAL PRECEDENT.

WILLIAM SULZER WAS IMPEACHED IN 1913 AS THE GOVERNOR.

THERE ARE SOME SUPREME COURT DECISIONS THERE, BUT THEY NEVER REALLY ADVANCED TO THE COURT OF APPEALS.

THERE'S IN THE A LOT OF PRECEDENT FOR THIS.

THERE'S THE QUESTION OF IF YOU IMPEACH ANDREW CUOMO BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE CAN YOU CONTINUE IMPEACHING HIM AFTER?

THERE ARE A LOT OF LEGAL QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT GET TIED UP INTO THE COURTS.

IT MIGHT GET THERE.

WE DON'T KNOW.

>> ALSO SULZER WASN'T BANNED FROM HOLDING OFFICE.

AND HE BECAME AN ASSEMBLY MEMBER A FEW WEEKS LATER.

SO PERHAPS IT COULD BE ASSEMBLYMAN ANDREW CUOMO FROM QUEEN OR SOMETHING, WHO KNOWS?

>> THAT'S THE THING, TOO.

THE ASSEMBLY CAN IMPEACH THE SENATE TRIAL WITH THE COURT OF APPEALS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS.

YOU CAN JUST REMOVE THE PERSON FROM OFFICE OR REMOVE THE PERSON FROM OFFICE AND BAR THEM FROM RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S-- THERE ARE A LOT OF LAWMAKERS THAT DO WANT TO DO THAT.

THERE A LOT WHO THINK IT MIGHT BE A DISTRACTION.

IT'S GONNA BE A LOT TO GO THROUGH.

IT WOULD SUCK ALL THE AIR OUT OF THE FALL AND TAKE ALL THE ATTENTION AWAY FROM ANYTHING THE NEW GOVERNOR DOES.

IT WOULD BE KIND OF LIKE THE TRUMP-BIDEN SITUATION.

WHEN TRUMP'S SECOND IMPEACHMENT HAPPENED WHICH WAS JUST BACK IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY 2021, AND NOBODY WAS PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO THE NEW PRESIDENT BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> ONE OTHER THING TO NOTE, TOO.

ANDREW CUOMO HAS $18 MILLION IN HIS CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT.

IF HE WERE TO WANT TO RUN IN THE FUTURE AT SOME POINT, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

>> THERE WAS A QUOTE FROM JAY JACOBS THIS WEEK ABOUT THAT.

I FORGOT WHO ASKED HIM.

I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SPECTRUM OR IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN "USA TODAY," BUT HE SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT, CUOMO $18 MILLION, THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WANTS IT.

THEN HE WAS QUIP AND SAID, IF HE WANTS THE WIRE DETAILS, WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE IT TO THEM.

>> I'M SURE THAT'S IN THE MAIL.

>> THAT'S HAPPENING, RIGHT?

>> YES.

YOU CAN REALLY SEE ANY SUPPORT CUOMO HAD WITHIN THE PARTY AND OBVIOUSLY FROM WITHOUT THE PARTY HAS JUST DIMINISHED AT ALL AND THIS IS ALSO A POLITICAL SITUATION A LITTLE BIT.

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNORS DURING HIS REMARKS WHEN HE WAS RESIGNING, AS WE SAID EARLIER, HE SAID HE DID NOTHING WRONG BUT ALSO HE'S REALLY DOUBLING DOWN ON THE NOTION THAT THIS IS ALL POLITICAL.

>> NEW YORK SMART TELLS US THAT THIS SITUATION IN THE MOMENT ARE NOT ABOUT THE FACTS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE TRUTH.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE THE SYSTEM BETTER.

THIS IS ABOUT POLITICS.

>> SO JON, HOW DO YOU THINK POLITICS AFFECTS THIS?

DO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MIGHT SAY LET'S BACK OFF OF THIS?

LET'S NOT LOOK TOO EXTREME IN EARN ITS OF THE GOVERNOR?

AMONG VOTERS, HE STILL HAS A SLIVER OF SUPPORT LEFT.

>> IT'S POLITICAL IN THE SENSE THAT WE LIVE IN A POLITICAL SYSTEM, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

>> RIGHT.

>> HE NEEDED VOTES.

AND IN NEITHER THE ASSEMBLY NOR THE SENATE.

IN THAT SENSE, IT'S POLITICAL, BUT YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF HIM TRYING TO BRUSH IT ASIDE OR TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, SUGGEST THAT HE'S THE VICTIM OF SOME SORT OF POLITICAL WITCH HUNT, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE SYSTEM.

HE KNOWS IT BETTER THAN ANYBODY.

WHEN HE WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE PUT OUT REPORTS ON ELIOT SPITZER AND GOVERNOR PATTERSON THAT WERE VERY DAMAGING TO BOTH OF THEM.

SO I MEAN-- >> THERE'S IRONY THERE, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> EXACTLY.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO FEEL TOO BADLY FOR HIM ON THAT POINT, YOU KNOW.

PERHAPS IN CASE, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WITH POLITICS.

HE WAS DOWN BEFORE.

I COVERED HIM IN 2002 WHEN HE HAD A PRIMARY-- CARL MCCALL FOR GOVERNOR DROPPED OUT FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE RACE AND THEN WENT THROUGH A HORRIBLE DIVORCE WITH KERRY KENNEDY AND EVERYBODY THOUGHT HE WAS FINISHED AND HE CAME BACK.

I THINK THIS TIME IT'S QUITE A BIT HARDER TO DO.

I THINK THAT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN A LITTLE.

HE CAN SAY, YEAH, I TOLD YOU AT THE TIME IT WAS ALL POLITICAL.

THAT'S IN THE PAST.

I'M A DIFFERENT PERSON NOW.

HE'S LEAVING THAT DOOR OPEN, I THINK.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GET A JOB SOMEWHERE DOING SOMETHING OR WHATEVER, OR IF HE'S MAYBE PLANNING ON RUNNING NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS LIKE VERY EXCITING.

>> I DON'T THINK NEXT YEAR.

>> I THINK-- >> MAYBE 2026, MAYBE A NEW YORK CITY OFFICE.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SOUND RUDE, BUT HE'S A LITTLE OLD.

I JUST DON'T KNOW LIKE.

>> HOW OLD IS OUR PRESIDENT?

HOW OLD IS OUR LAST PRESIDENT?

[LAUGHTER] I THINK HE COULD DO IT IF HE WANTED TO.

YOU WOULD THINK HE WOULD WANT TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO.

HE'S NEVER DONE ANYTHING ELSE IN HIS LIFE.

HE CAN'T CONCEIVE OF HAVING ANOTHER CAREER I DON'T THINK.

>> RIGHT.

SHE DELIVERED THIS SPEECH WHEN WE WERE IN THE BLUE ROOM WITH HER AND SHE TOOK QUESTIONS.

I FOUND HER PRESENTATION AND THE WAY THAT SHE TALKED WAS TO BE VERY DIFFERENT THAN ANDREW CUOMO.

I'M WONDERING, JON, HOW DO YOU THINK SHE'S GOING TO CHANGE THE ADMINISTRATION AND MAYBE HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATURE?

WHAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT UNDER GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL?

>> WHAT STRUCK ME IS SHE MADE A POINT TO SAY WHENEVER SHE'S OUT OF SHE'S OUT OF OFFERS, WHENEVER HER TERM ENDS, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE HER WORK ENVIRONMENT AS TOXIC.

THAT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO DIFFERENTIATE HERSELF FROM GOVERNOR CUOMO BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS.

IT'S ALSO HE'S LEFT A TRAIL OF FORMER EMPLOYEES WHO FELT THAT-- THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS TOXIC AND BUILT ON FEAR AND THAT WAS DOCUMENTED IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT AS WELL.

SO SHE'S TRYING TO DIFFERENTIATE HERSELF FROM ANDREW CUOMO.

SHE MADE A POINT OF SAYING THAT SHE WAS NOT CLOSE WITH ANDREW CUOMO, WHICH ALSO HAPPENS TO BE TRUE.

SO IT'S-- THAT'S VERY BENEFICIAL TO HER AT THIS POINT.

>> WELL, I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW SHE'S GOING TO INTERACT WITH US AND THE PRESS AND ALSO EXCITED TO SEE HOW SHE INTERACTS WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE.

THINK THE GOVERNOR'S GONE THROUGH A PERIOD RIGHT NOW WHERE HE STOPPED TRAVELING SO MUCH EXCEPT FOR WHEN IT'S POLITICAL CONVENIENCE.

>> SHE WAS NEVER OUT AND ABOUT THE WAY SHE IS.

SHE'S MUCH BETTER WITH PEOPLE ONE ON ONE.

>> WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

KAREN DEBATE FROM NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC RADIO.

JON CAMPBELL FROM THE "USA TODAY" NETWORK.

THANK YOU VERY IN >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THERE'S NOW THIS QUESTION OF WILL THE ASSEMBLY STILL CONSIDER IMPEACHING CUOMO EVEN THOUGH HE'S LEAVING OFFICE?

WE'RE EXPECTING AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION NEXT WEEK WHEN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEETS IN ALBANY.

REPUBLICANS ON THAT COMMITTEE AND SOME DEMOCRATS SAY THE IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION SHOULD CONTINUE GIVEN THAT IT COVERS MORE AREAS THAN JUST SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

LIKE THE STATE'S HANDLING OF NURSING HOMES, CUOMO'S PANDEMIC MEMOIR AND A LOT MORE.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER MARY-BETH WALSH IS A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE.

>> THAT'S ALL IMPORTANT STUFF AND I THINK IT GOES TO THAT ABUSE OF POWER AND ABUSE OF OFFICE.

I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO PROCEED.

>> FOR MORE ON ALL THAT, I TURN THIS WEEK TO ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER, WILL BARCLAY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER WILL BARCLAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS WEEK.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> OF COURSE.

>> SO GOVERNOR CUOMO HAS RESIGNED AT THE SAME TIME THE ASSEMBLY HAS CONDUCTED AN IMPEACHMENT PROBE AGAINST HIM FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS AND NOW THAT THERE'S THIS QUESTION OF CAN THEY OR CAN THEY NOT STILL IMPEACH THE GOVERNOR SINCE HE'S GOING TO BE OUT OF OFFICE SOMETIME NEXT WEEK, WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON THAT?

DO YOU THINK THE ASSEMBLY SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT AT THIS POINT?

>> YEAH.

I FEEL PRETTY STRONGLY THAT WE OUGHT TO CONTINUE FORWARD AND THERE'S A FEW REASONS WHY I FEEL THAT.

FIRST OF ALL, WE SPENT FIVE MONTHS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE INVESTIGATION AND IT SEEMS LIKE A WASTE TO THROW THAT ALL AWAY.

PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE ON THE CUSP OF I THINK COMING OUT WITH THE REPORT AND ACTUALLY TAKING AN IMPEACHMENT VOTE IN THE ASSEMBLY.

SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I THINK REALLY ULTIMATELY NEW YORKERS WANT ANSWERS AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

WE DO HAVE THE A.G.'S REPORT ON THAT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER SCANDALS THAT HAVE BEEN SURROUNDING THE GOVERNOR, LIKE THE NURSING HOME FATALITIES AND POTENTIAL COVER-UP WITH THOSE FATALITIES AND USING GOVERNMENT RESOURCES FOR HIS BOOK THAT HE WROTE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC AND GOT $5.1 MILLION FOR.

SO THOSE SCANDALS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT ANSWERS.

PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO MAYBE LOST LOVED ONES IN NURSING HOMES.

THEY WANT ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO THAT'S ONE REASON.

TWO REASONS, I GUESS, WHY WE OUGHT TO DO IT.

ULTIMATELY THE OTHER QUESTION IS AND THIS IS I THINK LESS OF A CONCERN BUT CERTAINLY IS RELEVANT IS THE FACT THAT IF HE IS IMPEACHED, MY UNDERSTANDING HE CAN'T RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN.

>> RIGHT.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE ABLE TO DO WITH ALL THE STUFF SURROUNDING HIM NOW, IF HE COULD MAKE A POLITICAL COMEBACK BUT THAT WOULD SHUT THE DOOR ON THAT IF HE WAS IMPEACHED >> I SAW ON WEDNESDAY ALL OF THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FEEL THIS WAY AS WELL.

THEY WANT THE IMPEACHMENT TO GO FORWARD, CORRECT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THEY WANT VERY MUCH SO AND AGAIN, I NEVER TALKED ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION WITH THEM.

BUT I HAVE ASKED THEM NUMEROUS TIMES HOW THEY FELT THINGS WERE GOING.

SOME FELT LIKE THE PROBE COULD HAVE GONE FASTER OR THE INVESTIGATION COULD GO FASTER, BUT THEY FEEL STRONGLY WITH ALL THE EFFORTS AS PUT IN THAT WE NEED TO BRING THIS TO A CONCLUSION.

>> AND ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE EARLIER THIS WEEK WAS ASKED IF HE NEEDED 76 DEMOCRATIC VOTES TO BRING THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT TO THE FLOOR.

76 BEING HALF THE CHAMBER.

BUT HE SAID THAT HE REALLY DIDN'T NEED 76 DEMOCRATS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY REPUBLICANS WOULD BE ON BOARD FOR IMPEACHMENT AS WELL.

>> WELL, YES.

CERTAINLY IN OUR CONFERENCE, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE SAY THEY WERE OPPOSED OR DEFENDING THE GOVERNOR.

FOR THAT MATTER, I HAVEN'T HEARD IT ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE EITHER.

SO I THINK IF YOU BROUGHT AN IMPEACHMENT VOTE TODAY, YOU MIGHT GET A UNANIMOUS VOTE IN FAVOR OF DOING THAT.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S REALLY CHANGED NOW IS OBVIOUSLY THE GOVERNOR'S RESIGNED AND SO MAYBE SOME PEOPLE'S VIEWS HAVE CHANGED AND DON'T THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO PURSUE THIS.

I'M SURE THAT'S THE CASE.

I DO THINK IT'S A BIPARTISAN FEEL OUT THERE THAT WE SHOULD SOMEHOW GET ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THIS GOVERNOR >> YOU'RE A LAWYER.

I WANT TO POSE THIS LEGAL QUESTION TO YOU.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF RUMBLINGS OF CAN THEY EVEN PURSUE THE IMPEACHMENT SINCE THE GOVERNOR RESIGNED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

DO YOU THINK THE ASSEMBLY SHOULD MOVE FORWARD IF IT'S NOT POSSIBLE AND WILL THERE BE LITIGATION?

CAN THE ASSEMBLY EVEN DO THIS NOW?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING AND I HAVEN'T READ A MEMO AND EVEN THOUGH I'M A LAWYER, I'M FAR FROM AN EXPERT ON IMPEACHMENT AND WE HAVE ATTORNEYS ON STAFF AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT YOU COULD MOVE FORWARD, BUT THEY HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO PROVIDE A LEGAL ANALYSIS OF WHY THEY CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU COULD DO IT FOR THE REASONS I JUST EXPLAINED AND ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS IS TO PREVENT HIM FROM RUNNING FOR OFFICE AGAIN.

>> SWITCHING GEARS HERE, YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE ASSEMBLY SINCE GOVERNOR CUOMO STARTED HIS FIRST THREE TERMS AND YOU WERE IN IT BEFORE THAT AS WELL.

I'M WONDERING, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHANGED ONCE HE RESIGNS AND KATHY HOCHUL TAKES THE GOVERNORSHIP?

WHAT RELATIONSHIP WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE MOVING FORWARD?

>> INTERESTING.

BOTH GOVERNOR SPITZER WHO RESIGNED IN DISGRACE AND NOW GOVERNOR CUOMO, THEY HAD A STYLE WHERE THEY DIDN'T REALLY WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND CERTAINLY NOT WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

I WAS HOPEFUL WHEN GOVERNOR CUOMO STARTED THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE A REAL CONTRAST TO SPITZER.

IT DID APPEAR THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.

HE CERTAINLY BROUGHT SOME PROFESSIONALISM BACK TO THE EXECUTIVE STAFF AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS COLLABORATION WITH MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT SORT OF DRIFTED AND OBVIOUSLY, THINK ULTIMATELY IT WAS PART OF HIS DOWNFALL BECAUSE HE ULTIMATELY DIDN'T HAVE A FRIEND LEFT POLITICALLY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE KATHY HOCHUL WORK MORE AS A PARTNER WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE SO PARTISAN ALL THE TIME.

OBVIOUSLY AS A REPUBLICAN IN A HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC STATE, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REPUBLICANS' THOUGHTS AND VOICES HEARD.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS-- IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE ON BIG IDEOLOGICAL ISSUES.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENCES.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALWAYS HAVE DIFFERENCES, BUT THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT COULD CHANGE.

I SAY THIS EXAMPLE THE OTHER DAY ABOUT BAIL REFORM.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN MY CONFERENCE WAS DEAD SET AGAINST ANY TYPE OF BAIL REFORM.

WE JUST FELT WHAT WAS INSTITUTED WENT WAY TOO FAR.

NOW WE THINK THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME REFORM OF THAT REFORM AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE CRAZY.

ONE THING WE SUGGEST IS HAVING JUDGES MAKE-- HAVE DISCRETION, DECIDE WHETHER THE DEFENDANT IS A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY BEFORE LETTING HIM OUT WITHOUT BAIL.

SO THERE'S A REFORM.

I THINK IF YOU ASK MOST NEW YORKERS THEY WOULDN'T SAY THAT'S A RADICALLY REPUBLICAN IDEA OR RADICALLY DEMOCRAT IDEA.

THEY THINK THAT'S A COMMON SENSE IDEA.

I HOPE KATHY HOCHUL UNDERSTANDS THAT AND WILL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON THE WHOLE AND ALSO REPUBLICANS.

BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS OF HOW TO MAKE THE STATE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE DYNAMIC CHANGES WHEN KATHY HOCHUL TAKES THAT GOVERNORSHIP AND HOW SHE WORKS WITH THE LEGISLATURE, AND HER GOVERNING STYLE OVER THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER WILL BARCLAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON, DAN.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WEEK IN THE ASSEMBLY.

IN THE MEANTIME, YOU MIGHT BE ASKING YOURSELF ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO IS ABOUT TO BE NEW YORK'S NEXT GOVERNOR.

KATHY HOCHUL HAS BEEN NEW YORK'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR SIX YEARS NOW AND SHE'S ABOUT TO BE THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE AS GOVERNOR IN NEW YORK STATE HISTORY.

AND WE ACTUALLY ASKED HER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO HOW WOULD SHE FEEL IF THAT HAPPENED.

LISTEN TO THIS.

>> YOU KNOW, I NEVER MAKE ANY FUTURE FORECASTS.

I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE WHERE I NEED TO STEP IN, I'M BATTLE TESTED.

I CAN HANDLE IT.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE CAREER AND LIFE OF SOON-TO-BE GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL.

[ APPLAUSE ] KATHY HOCHUL HAS MADE HER MARK IN STATE GOVERNMENT OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AS A LEADER OF THE STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR ISSUES RELATED TO WOMEN, LIKE CHILD CARE AND ACCESS TO ABORTION.

HERE SHE IS TWO YEARS AGO AT A PLANNED PARENTHOOD RALLY AFTER THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED NEW PROTECTIONS FOR ABORTION IN NEW YORK.

>> BECAUSE YES, WE'RE PROUD TO BE IN NEW YORK AND YES, WE CAN SIT BACK AND SAY WE DID A GREAT JOB HERE.

>> HOCHUL WAS SELECTED TO BE ANDREW CUOMO'S RUNNING MATE IN 2014.

AFTER THEN-LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOB DUFFY DECIDED NOT TO RUN.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> HOABLE WAS ABOUT TO PROVIDE BALANCE TO CUOMO'S TICKET.

SHE'S A NATIVE OF BUFFALO WHERE SHE STILL LIVES TODAY AND CUOMO LOST THAT PART OF THE STATE IN 2010.

THE PAIR WON THE 2014 ELECTION BY MORE THAN 500 YOU TO THOUSAND VOTES AND WERE RE-ELECTED FOUR YEARS LATER.

>> TODAY, THE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAVE SENT A MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR-- [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THEY WANT GOVERNOR CUOMO FOR FOUR MORE YEARS!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> BUT BEFORE SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE STATE'S NUMBER TWO JOB, HOCHUL ALREADY HAD A HISTORY IN NEW YORK STATE POLITICS.

SHE WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN A 2011 SPECIAL ELECTION IN A DISTRICT THAT WAS CONSIDERED SAFE FOR REPUBLICANS AT THE TIME, BUT LOST THE SEAT A YEAR LATER.

BEFORE SHE WAS IN CONGRESS, HOCHUL SERVED AS ERIE COUNTY CLERK FOR FOUR YEARS AND SOMETIMES TOOK POSITIONS THAT DIDN'T LINE UP WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HER POSITION CHANGED IN 2018 WHEN LAWMAKERS WERE CONSIDERING THE ISSUE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> THINGS ARE IN THE COUNTY AND I WOULD SAY TODAY (INAUDIBLE) IT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT ERA OUT THERE.

THAT WAS 11 YEARS AGO.

>> HOCHUL GOT HER START IN POLITICS WHEN SHE WON A SEAT IN THE HAMMERTOWN BOARD IN EERIE COUNTY, ALMOST THREE DECADES AGO.

HER INTEREST IN PUBLIC SERVICE DATES BACK EARLIER TO WHEN SHE WAS AN ATTORNEY WORKING IN THE OFFICE OF FORMER U.S.

SENATOR DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN.

SHE ENDED UP LEAVING THE JOB NOT BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO BUT BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO CHILD CARE AT THE TIME, WHICH IS STILL ONE OF HER TOP ISSUES.

>> YOU KNOW, I HAD CHILDREN 32 YEARS AGO WORKING AS A YOUNG STAFFER ON SENATOR DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN'S STAFF.

I WAS AN ATTORNEY.

I LOVED MY JOB.

BUT THE HOURS WERE CRAZY.

WE WOULD WORK MORNING TO NIGHT AND LITERALLY PULLED ALL-NIGHTERS WHEN THEY WERE IN SESSION.

YOU HAVE A CHILD, NOBODY TO WATCH THE KIDS.

I DIDN'T HAVE PARENTS.

I DIDN'T HAVE FAMILY.

I DIDN'T HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM.

I WAS FROM NEW YORK.

I'M DOWN IN WASHINGTON AND I LITERALLY HAD TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT.

I HAD A TINY HOUSE NEXT TO MY WASHING MACHINE AND DRIER.

I SET UP A LITTLE DESK, PUT A COUPLE TOYS UNDER PIT THAT WAS MY OFFICE.

YOU COULD HEAR MY KIDS.

I WOULD BE ON THE PHONE WITH A CLIENT AND I WOULD SAY THAT CHILD CARE CENTER DOWN THE HALL IS TOO NOISY.

THERE WERE KIDS UNDER MY DESK.

>> BORN TO A BLUE COLLAR FAMILY IN BUFFALO, HOCHUL MARRIED AND WHILE THE HOCHULS ARE CONSIDERED A POLITICAL POWER COUPLE, TO SOME, KATHY HOKEEL IS STILL DRIVEN BY HER OWN EXPERIENCES IN LIFE.

CHILD CARE IS A TOP ISSUE FOR HER BECAUSE SHE WENT THROUGH IT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HITS CLOSE TO HOME LITERALLY.

BUFFALO'S GONE THROUGH A MAJOR RENAISSANCE OVER THE LAST DECADE IN PART DUE TO THE STATE'S REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.

SHE LEADS THE STATE'S REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS AND SHE ALWAYS MAKES TIME TO GET BACK TO HER ROOTS.

EVEN IN POLITICS.

>> I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO ERIE COUNTY, JEREMY ZELLNOR, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE HEAVY STUFF AWAY FROM ME.

THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> AND SHE'S RELATIVELY WELL REGARDED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SHE OFTEN LEADS PROCEEDINGS IN THE STATE SENATE AND IS CONSIDERED AN ALLY AMONG DEMOCRATS IN THE ASSEMBLY.

THAT COULD GIVE HER A LEG UP IN HER OWN POLITICAL FUTURE, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> SO HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW A LITTLE MORE NOW ABOUT NEW YORK'S NEXT GOVERNOR, BUT WE'VE ALSO GOT MORE COVERAGE ON HOCHUL AND CUOMO'S RESIGNATION OVER ON OUR WEBSITE VISIT EVERY DAY FOR UPDATES FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.

UNTIL THEN, THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

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