Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, a Democrat on the judiciary committee who represents Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights in Queens, said that lawmakers had “a lot to consider.”“The end result of an impeachment proceeding is that whoever’s in that seat has to leave the seat and will never be able to run for that office again,” she said. “Because this has always been about the people of New York and not some sort of political revenge, we are going to meet as a committee sometime in the next couple of days and determine the next steps in this process.”David Weprin, another Democrat on the committee who represents northeastern Queens, said in a statement that he recognized “that an impeachment trial would cost millions of dollars and it would be a distraction from governance.”Other members said that the process should undoubtedly go forward. Yuh-Line Niou, a Democratic member of the Assembly whose district includes parts of Lower Manhattan, said on Twitter and in an interview that it was important for the legislature to hold the governor accountable, regardless of his intention to resign. She cited the governor’s statement that his resignation would take effect in two weeks, saying that the waiting period was “dangerous for his staff and those he may retaliate against.”

Source: New York Times August 10, 2021 20:05 UTC