Common Cause/NY Responds to NYS Assembly Suspending Impeachment

NEW YORK, NY (08/13/2021) (readMedia)-- In response to news that the NYS Assembly is stopping impeachment proceedings into Governor Cuomo's alleged abuses of power, Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY put out the following statement:

"New Yorkers deserve an effective and independent legislative branch of government. The Assembly's refusal to fulfill its constitutionally mandated role is disheartening and unacceptable. Halting the impeachment process - without even a public discussion - is shameful. The failure to move forward is setting a bad precedent that elected officials, who abuse the system, can resign on their own terms without facing full accountability. New Yorkers deserve the facts and transparency -- and right now, they are left in the dark. Not only must the Assembly immediately release the results of the tax-payer funded outside investigation into Governor Cuomo's conduct, the Assembly and Senate must establish evidentiary hearings immediately in light of the failure to proceed with the impeachment investigation. The facts that they uncover should lead to meaningful -- and needed -- legislation, including ethics reform and fiscal oversight of the Executive so that future governors don't abuse their office."