New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was under fast-growing pressure to resign on Tuesday after officials released an explosive report claiming he has sexually harassed multiple women during his time in office.
President Joe Biden said Mr Cuomo should step down, while other members of his Democratic Party said he should be removed via impeachment if he refused to quit.
"He should resign," Mr Biden said at the White House.
Current and former state employees were among those the governor harassed, as well as women outside of government, according to an investigative report released by New York's Attorney General Letitia James.
"The independent investigation found that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, many of whom were young women, by engaging in unwanted groping, kisses, hugging and by making inappropriate comments," Ms James told reporters.
Mr Cuomo responded to the report saying he never "made inappropriate sexual advances".
"I want you to know directly from me, I never touched anyone inappropriately... I am 63 years old. I lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just not who I am," he said.
"Trial by newspaper, or biased reviews are not the way to find the facts in this matter. I welcome the opportunity for a full and fair review before a judge and a jury. Because this just did not happen."
The governor has denied allegations of harassment since they surfaced earlier this year, saying he never meant to make any of the women who have complained about his suggestive comments and unwanted touching feel uncomfortable.
Still, in February, he acknowledged that he "may have been insensitive or too personal".
Mr Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other major Democratic figures previously said they would wait on the outcome of an investigation before joining any calls for the governor to resign.
That changed after the release of Mr James's report.
"Recognising his love for New York and the respect for the office he holds, I call upon the governor to resign," Ms Pelosi said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that Mr Cuomo should step down.
“It is beyond clear that Andrew Cuomo is not fit to hold office and can no longer serve as governor," he said in a statement.
"He must resign, and if he continues to resist and attack the investigators who did their jobs, he should be impeached immediately.”
New York senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand issued a joint letter declaring that "no elected official is above the law".
"The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor's office," they said. "We continue to believe that the governor should resign."
During the five-month probe, investigators spoke to 179 people, including complainants and current and former members of the executive chamber.
The probe led to a "deeply disturbing yet clear picture" of a "climate of fear" in which Mr Cuomo sexually harassed a number of women, many of them young, said Ms James.
The governor's office was a "toxic" workplace that enabled "harassment to occur," she added.
Ms James launched her investigation into the sexual harassment allegations after receiving a formal request from Mr Cuomo's office on March 1 as the number of publicly reported allegations mounted.
Joon Kim, a former federal prosecutor and acting Manhattan US attorney, and Anne Clark, an employment lawyer with experience in sexual harassment cases, led the probe.
"This investigation has revealed conduct that corrodes the very fabric and character of our state government and shines light on injustice that can be present at the highest levels of government," said Ms James.
The harassment investigation against the governor follows a probe into his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The attorney general released a report in January describing how Mr Cuomo's administration had undercounted nursing home resident deaths by about 50 per cent during the pandemic.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
