Andrew Cuomo

Andrew Cuomo
Cuomo in 2017
56th Governor of New York
In office
January 1, 2011 – August 23, 2021
Lieutenant
Preceded byDavid Paterson
Succeeded byKathy Hochul
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office
August 5, 2020 – July 8, 2021
Vice ChairAsa Hutchinson
Preceded byLarry Hogan
Succeeded byAsa Hutchinson
Vice Chair of the National Governors Association
In office
July 26, 2019 – August 5, 2020
ChairLarry Hogan
Preceded byLarry Hogan
Succeeded byAsa Hutchinson
64th Attorney General of New York
In office
January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2010
GovernorEliot Spitzer
David Paterson
Preceded byEliot Spitzer
Succeeded byEric Schneiderman
11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
In office
January 29, 1997 – January 20, 2001
PresidentBill Clinton
DeputySaul N. Ramirez Jr.
Preceded byHenry Cisneros
Succeeded byMel Martínez
Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Community Planning and Development
In office
May 28, 1993 – January 29, 1997
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded bySkirma Kondratas
Succeeded bySaul N. Ramirez Jr.
Personal details
Born
Andrew Mark Cuomo

(1957-12-06) December 6, 1957 (age 66)
New York City, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1990; div. 2005)​
Domestic partnerSandra Lee (2005–2019)
Children3
Parent(s)Mario Cuomo
Matilda Raffa
RelativesCuomo family
Education
Fordham University (BA)
Albany Law School (JD)
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • politician
Signature
Andrew Cuomo's voice
Cuomo testifies before Congress on New York's response to COVID-19
Recorded September 10, 2024
This article is part of a series on
Liberalism
in the United States
Schools
Principles
History
Intellectuals
Politicians
Commentators
Jurists
Parties
Think tanks
Other organizations
Media
See also

Andrew Mark Cuomo (/ˈkwoʊmoʊ/ KWOH-moh, Italian: [ˈkwɔːmo]; born December 6, 1957) is an American politician, lawyer, and former government official who served as the 56th governor of New York from 2011 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party and son of former governor Mario Cuomo, Cuomo previously served as the attorney general of New York from 2007 to 2010.

Born in Queens, New York City, Cuomo is a graduate of Fordham University and Albany Law School. He began his career working as the campaign manager for his father in the 1982 New York gubernatorial election. Later, Cuomo entered the private practice of law and chaired the New York City Homeless Commission from 1990 to 1993. Cuomo then served in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development as assistant secretary from 1993 to 1997 and as secretary from 1997 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. Cuomo was elected New York attorney general in 2006, after a failed bid to win the Democratic primary in the 2002 New York gubernatorial election.

Cuomo won the 2010 Democratic primary for governor of New York and won the general election with over 60 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2014 and 2018. During his governorship, Cuomo signed legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, medical use of cannabis, and recreational use of cannabis. Cuomo's administration oversaw the construction of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, the Second Avenue Subway, the Moynihan Train Hall, and a reconstruction of LaGuardia Airport.[1] He also decommissioned the Indian Point nuclear plant, which led to an uptick in greenhouse gas emissions.[2] In response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the 2012 Webster shooting, Cuomo signed the NY SAFE Act of 2013, the strictest gun control law in the United States. He also delivered Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act; a 2011 tax code that raised taxes for the wealthy and lowered taxes for the middle class; 12-week paid family leave; and a gradual increase of the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour.[3] Cuomo received national attention for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York. Although he was initially lauded for his response, he faced renewed criticism and federal investigation after it was alleged that his administration covered up information pertaining to COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents who died in hospitals.[4][5][6] Investigations by both the Department of Justice and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office were officially closed as a result of no evidence of wrongdoing.[7][8]

Beginning in late 2020, Cuomo faced numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.[9][10] An investigation commissioned by New York attorney general Letitia James reported in August 2021 that Cuomo sexually harassed at least eleven women during his time in office,[11][12][13] for which Cuomo faced criminal investigations, however she declined to file criminal charges against him.[14][15][16][17] Following the release of the attorney general's report, Cuomo was called to resign by President Joe Biden. On August 23, despite denying all allegations of sexual harassment, Cuomo resigned from office and was succeeded by his lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul.[18][19][20][21][22] At the time of his resignation, he was the longest-serving governor in the United States.

The release also prompted district attorneys for Manhattan, Nassau County, Westchester County, Albany County and Oswego County to pursue criminal investigations; however all of the investigations were closed without any charges being brought against him.[23][24][25][26]

  1. ^ Chaffin, Joshua (August 12, 2021). "After Andrew Cuomo's downfall, New York reconsiders its political bullies". Financial Times. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  2. ^ Milman, Oliver (March 20, 2024). "A nuclear plant's closure was hailed as a green win. Then emissions went up". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  3. ^ "Governor Cuomo Signs $15 Minimum Wage Plan and 12 Week Paid Family Leave Policy into Law". Governor.ny.gov. April 4, 2016. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "The lighter days of CNN's Cuomo Brothers show are long gone". AP News. February 19, 2021. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  5. ^ McKinley, Jesse; Ferré-Sadurní, Luis (February 12, 2021). "New Allegations of Cover-Up by Cuomo Over Nursing Home Virus Toll". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  6. ^ "Health Agency Under Cuomo 'Misled the Public' on Nursing Home Deaths". NY Times. March 15, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  7. ^ "DOJ declines to investigate Cuomo's handling of covid-19 in nursing homes". Washington Post. July 25, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  8. ^ "Cuomo not charged with COVID nursing home deaths: Manhattan DA". ABC News. January 3, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  9. ^ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis; McKinley, Jesse (March 11, 2021). "Aide Says Cuomo Groped Her, as New Details of Account Emerge". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  10. ^ Sommerfeldt, Chris (March 12, 2021). "Seventh Cuomo accuser alleges he 'verbally and mentally abused' her after getting hired for her looks". nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Thomas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Niedzwiadek was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Allen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference NPR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ McEvoy, Jemima. "Cuomo Now Under Criminal Investigation For Sexual Misconduct In Manhattan, Albany And Westchester". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  16. ^ Bolger, Timothy (August 4, 2021). "Nassau Acting DA Investigating Cuomo's Alleged Misconduct at Belmont Racetrack". Li Press. Long Island Press. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  17. ^ Pellis, Randy (August 13, 2021). "Oswego County district attorney investigating local sexual misconduct allegations against Cuomo". Watertown Daily Times. Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference Variety was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Reyes, Yacob (August 24, 2021). "Kathy Hochul sworn in as New York's first female governor". Axios. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  20. ^ Watson, Kathryn (August 10, 2021). "Who is Kathy Hochul, New York's soon-to-be first female governor?". CBS News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  21. ^ Johnson, Ted; Goldsmith, Jill (August 10, 2021). "Embattled New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Resigns Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  22. ^ Gregorian, Dareh; Finn, Teaganne (August 10, 2021). "New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns after sexual harassment allegations". NBC News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  23. ^ "New York judge dismisses sole criminal charge faced by former governor Andrew Cuomo after sexual misconduct allegation". CNN. January 7, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  24. ^ "Westchester DA declines to pursue charges against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo". ABC News. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  25. ^ Villeneuve, Marina; Hill, Michael (January 7, 2022). "Judge dismisses sole criminal charge against Andrew Cuomo". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  26. ^ "Last Criminal Case Against Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo Dropped by DA". NBC New York. January 31, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2024.