EXPLAINER: How Cuomo might be impeached, removed from office
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, buffeted by sexual harassment allegations, is increasingly looking like he could be impeached and removed from office — something that hasn't happened to the state's governor in nearly 108 years.
A majority of members of the state Assembly, the legislative body that has the power to start impeachment proceedings, have already said they favor removing Cuomo if he won't resign. Pressure has built since a team of independent investigators hired by the state attorney general concluded that Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women.
Cuomo, a Democrat, has vowed to stay in office, rejecting the allegations against him as either fabricated or a misunderstanding of gestures and comments meant to convey warmth.
If the Legislature goes ahead with an impeachment, it will follow procedures that have some parallels — and some important differences — to the process the U.S. Congress uses for impeaching presidents.
Here’s a look at how impeachment might work:
THE PROCESS
Like at the federal level, New York impeachments start in the lower house of the legislature — in this case, the Assembly.
The state’s constitution says the Assembly can impeach officials with a simple majority vote for “misconduct or malversation.”
If a majority of members vote to impeach, a trial on Cuomo's removal from office would be held in what’s known as the Impeachment Court.
The court consists not only of members of the state Senate, but also judges of the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, who would also cast votes.
There are seven appeals court judges and 63 senators, though not all would serve on the impeachment court. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (HOH-kull) and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins would also typically be members, but they are excluded...