Biden Praises Cuomo's Role as Governor: He Did a ‘Hell of a Job’
'That’s why it’s so sad'
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Democrat Joe Biden praised Andrew Cuomo’s role as New York governor and his record on issues important to Democrats amid the mounting sexual harassment allegations which forced him to resign on Tuesday.
Folowing his speech on the infrastructure bill passing the Senate, CBS News reporter Ed O’Keefe asked Biden about Cuomo’s record as governor of New York.
“In terms of personal behavior or what he’s done as a governor?” Biden asked.
O’Keefe clarified it was Cuomo’s record as governor, Biden replied:
“Well, he’s done a hell of a job.”
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“Thought he’d done a hell of a job … both on everything from the access to voting to infrastructure, a whole range of things,” Biden continued.
“That’s why it’s so sad.”
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked Biden how he could separate Cuomo’s actions, Biden fired back, arguing he was only focusing on his record on infrastructure.
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Biden said before he was corrected by O’Keefe, who repeated that his question was about Cuomo’s record as governor “generally.”
Biden expressed frustration that the media was only focusing on Cuomo’s resignation.
“I’m not going to comment anymore on Andrew Cuomo,” he said, waving away reporters.
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Earlier this year, Biden refused to call for Cuomo to resign amid growing allegations of sexual harassment and the nursing home scandal.
A reporter asked Biden:
"Do you think Governor Andrew Cuomo should resign?”
“I think the investigation is underway, and we should see what it brings us,” Biden responded.
In March, Cuomo's first accuser, Lindsey Boylan, claimed she is being harassed due to Democrat Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's silence on the scandal.
“The governor has denied all wrongdoing. He got on his platform today and said, ‘there are many motivations of why people do things,'” Boylan tweeted at the time.
“He is calling up hate and speculation to be directed to his accusers. All harm and hate directed at the women sits squarely on @NYGovCuomo.”
Biden and Cuomo had a “personal friendship” and a “crucial political alliance," according to The New York Times.
Biden had also considered picking Cuomo to be U.S. attorney general, calling him the “gold standard” for his leadership in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
