2 years ago
NEW YORK — Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo continued his attempt at a comeback tour Thursday, laying out his own state budget priorities even though he's out of office and denouncing what he continues to call a cancel culture that led him to resign in August amid sexual harassment allegations.
Cuomo gave an address and answered questions from the crowd for an hour at the Bronx church run by former Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., a conservative Democrat whom the former governor often sparred with over same-sex marriage and abortion rights.
But with Cuomo looking for opportunities to tout his accomplishments and try to remake his scandal-scarred image, he accepted Diaz's invite last week, often joking during the appearance about their differences but also their friendship.
And Cuomo continued to stoke speculation about a potential comeback, telling reporters who swarmed him after the speech that he hasn't ruled out a return to office — or a potential run for governor.
"I have a lot of options open, and I'm considering them," Cuomo told reporters after the event.
If he were to run for office — and he had $16 million in his campaign coffers in January and is already running ads to promote himself and his 11-year record in office — he would have to make a move quickly. Petitions for statewide office are due in early April to get on the June primary ballot.
But for now, Cuomo appears eager to talk New York government and politics and try to rewrite his tarnished legacy, saying New Yorkers should stand up to bullies — which he was regularly accused by critics of being himself — and that he was forced from office by Democratic "extremists" in the Legislature and those who wanted his job.
“I speak as a concerned New Yorker and a very concerned New Yorker because the truth is, we are in a pivotal and dangerous time in this country and in this state,” he said.
Context: Cuomo, 64, the three-term governor, didn't address many of the scandals that led him to leave office rather than face a certain impeachment. Even this week, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a damning audit that reinforced reports from the Attorney General's Office and the Assembly Judiciary Committee last year that found his administration underreported Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes by as much as 50 percent.
Instead, Cuomo focused on policy and the "cancel culture" that he blamed for his demise — seemingly downplaying the allegations against him.
"Stand up to the ignorance and intolerance, stand up to the bullies. Stand up to the extremists. Cancel the cancel culture," he stressed. "Our cancel culture mentality today is like modern day stonings."
His speech met with broad criticism.
"Yup, that’s it. In Cuomo’s twisted mind, I’m the one who called him late at night while he was with his family and threatened to destroy him for telling the truth about nursing homes," Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens), who Cuomo ripped in 2020 for being a critic of the governor's response to the Covid nursing home crisis, wrote on Twitter.
What's next: Cuomo said he supports additional bail reform measures, siding with New York City Mayor Eric Adams who is trying to do the same amid a wave of violence in the city. Cuomo urged lawmakers to address the changes in the state budget due April 1, estimating it might not happen outside of the budget during the remainder of the legislative session that runs into June.
“I will wager anyone in the room if they don’t pass a law changing bail reform in the budget they won’t pass any meaningful reform by the end of the session in June,” Cuomo said. “And Mayor Eric Adams’ pleas will be in vain.”
After the event, he was asked if he’d consider creating his own political party in order to run for election. Cuomo, whose late father Mario was a three-term governor, responded, “I’ve done it before. My father’s done it before.”
English (US)