Video source: YouTube, WHAS11

President Joe Biden said he believes New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign if an independent investigation confirms claims that he committed sexual harassment.

During an interview Tuesday on ABC News with George Stephanopoulos, Biden said the women who have accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct “should be taken seriously,” but cautioned there should be an investigation before demands are made for the three-term Democratic governor to step down. 

“A woman should be presumed telling the truth and should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forward,” Biden said. “There should be an investigation to determine whether what she says is true. That’s what’s going on now.”

The president added, “There could be a criminal prosecution that is attached to it. I just don’t know.”

In recent weeks, seven women have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment or unwanted advances by the Democratic governor.  

Cuomo has repeatedly denied the accusations. He has also apologized for "making anyone feel uncomfortable" while maintaining that he "never touched anyone inappropriately."

An investigation into the claims is being made by New York State Attorney General Letitia James and is being led by attorneys Joon Kim, a former prosecutor with the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and Anne Clark, an employment discrimination lawyer.

The New York State Assembly Judiciary Committee is also conducting an impeachment investigation concurrently with James’s independent probe.

A number of top Democrats from New York, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, have called on the governor to step down. Cuomo has refused to resign and urged the public to “wait for the facts.”

During the interview, Stephanopoulos asked Biden, "Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, the majority of the congressional delegation don't think he can be an effective governor right now. Can he serve effectively?"

"Well, that's a judgment for them to make," the president said.

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Source: Equities News