\u201cPeople know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture and the truth. Let the review proceed,\u201d Cuomo told reporters on a hastily scheduled phone briefing.<\/p>\n
He then vowed, \u201cI am not going to resign.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not elected by the politicians, I was elected by the people,\u201d he added, repeating an oft-used mantra he\u2019s used over the last two weeks.<\/p>\n
During the call, Cuomo took just four questions from reporters \u2014 none from The Post, as has been his norm since the scandal broke \u2014 who grilled him on the growing scandal that\u2019s engulfed his administration.<\/p>\n
He dodged a question on whether he had had a consensual relationship with any of his accusers \u2014 whose claims range from unwanted touching and kissing to groping, the most serious charge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have not had a sexual relationship that was inappropriate. Period,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also took aim at his female accusers \u2014 including former aides.<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t speculate about people\u2019s possible motives,\u201d he told reporters, while saying that as former state attorney general, he learned that \u201ca lot of people allege a lot of things for a lot of reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never harassed anyone. I never abused anyone. I never assaulted anyone. And I never would,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n On Thursday, more than 55 Democratic lawmakers from New York\u00a0demanded the governor step down<\/a>\u00a0from office as he faces sexual harassment and assault allegations.<\/p>\n And Friday, Democratic members of New York\u2019s congressional delegation, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and veteran Rep. Jerry Nadler, joined them in\u00a0calling for Cuomo to quit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cuomo called his critics \u201creckless and dangerous\u201d for reaching a conclusion before a pair of independent investigations conclude.<\/p>\n \u201cPoliticians take positions for all sorts of reasons, including political expediency and bowing to pressure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cPart of this is that I am not part of the political club,\u201d Cuomo continued. \u201cAnd you know what, I\u2019m proud of it.\u201d<\/p>\n![\""I](\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/03\/cuomo-refuses-to-resign-call2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=300)