New York Assembly suspends Cuomo impeachment effort after his resignation

Lawmakers in theNewYorkAssemblyhave suspended theirimpeachment investigation of Governor AndrewCuomoin light of his promise to step down from office over sexual harassment complaints, Speaker CarlHeastie said in a statement on Friday.

TheAssembly, controlled byCuomo's fellow Democrats, opened theimpeachment investigation in Marchafterat least two women who formerly worked for thegovernor went public with complaints thatCuomohad sexually harassed them.

A damning report released this month by thestate's attorney general concludedCuomohad broken state and federal law by harassing at least 11 women, including aides and a state trooper.

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Cuomosaid on Tuesdayhewould resign and leave office in two weeks.Hehas denied harassing anyone, thoughhehas acknowledged making some women uncomfortable by engaging in whathecharacterized as well-intentioned efforts to show affection.

Heastie said theimpeachment inquiry was no longer needed since its purpose was "to determine whether GovernorCuomoshould remain in office."

Healso said lawmakers have been advised by legal counsel that thestate's constitution does not allow thelegislature toimpeachan elected official who is no longer in office.

Ifimpeached in thestateAssembly,Cuomowould have faced a trial in thestate Senate, which also has a Democratic majority. A conviction would permit lawmakers to barCuomofrom ever holding public office again.

Prior to his resignation,Cuomoappeared almost certain to beimpeached and ousted from office, as Democratic legislators abandoned him following thereport from Attorney General Letitia James' office.

Theimpeachment probe was not limited to theharassment allegations.

Investigators were also examining whether theCuomoadministration deliberately under-reported nursing home deaths during thecoronavirus pandemic as well as whetherCuomoimproperly used state resources in penning a published memoir.

While incomplete, theinquiry had gathered enough evidence to likely result inimpeachment hadCuomonot stepped down,Heastie said.

Cuomohas denied any wrongdoing with regard to nursing home data as well as his book.

Hestill faces potential criminal investigations from several district attorneys' offices.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, will become thestate's first female governor when shetakes over forCuomo. Sheannounced on Thursday sheintends to run for a full term in 2022.