Politics

New York Governor Cuomo resigns amid sexual harassment scandal

“You know me, I’m a New Yorker born and bred, I’m a fighter and my instinct is to fight through this controversy because I truly believe this is politically motivated.”

Published

11 months ago

August 10, 2021

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The governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, has resigned Tuesday following months of pressure amid mounting allegations of sexual harassment. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul took his place.

Cuomo, 63, maintained his innocence against serious allegations of sexual harassment detailed in a bombshell report released last week by the New York State Attorney General’s Office, describing the scandal as “politically motivated,” according to US media.

But he acknowledged making women uncomfortable with unwanted hugs, kisses and comments, portraying some highlighted encounters as the result of “generational or cultural” differences as he “didn’t realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn.”

Cuomo, who previously appeared hellbent on staying in office, said he decided to step down because—with state lawmakers probing his impeachment and a growing number of high-profile figures calling for his resignation—“this situation by its current trajectory will generate months of political and legal controversy.”

“This is one of the most challenging times for government in a generation,” Cuomo said, explaining he believes “the best thing I can do now to help is step aside and let government get back to governing.”

The resignation will be effective in 14 days, Cuomo said, at which point he will be replaced by second-in-command Kathy Hochul, who will be the first woman to serve in the role and who said in a statement she agrees with Cuomo’s decision to step down.

“You know me, I’m a New Yorker born and bred, I’m a fighter and my instinct is to fight through this controversy because I truly believe this is politically motivated,” Cuomo said. “But when I took my oath as governor, then it changed. I became a fighter, but I became a fighter for you, and it is your best interest I serve.”

Cuomo and his personal attorney Rita Glavin disparaged the investigation overseen by New York Attorney General Letitia James and many of its key claims up until Cuomo’s resignation. Glavin held a press conference right before Cuomo’s announcement at which she attacked allegations from multiple accusers, including an aide, Brittany Commisso, who claims the governor groped her at the executive mansion last year. “This has not been a fair process. In fact, the governor has been given no process,” Glavin said.

The tide turned for Cuomo after New York Attorney General Letitia James released the findings of her five-month investigation into him last Tuesday. The governor had previously been publicly accused of sexual harassment by multiple aides, but this report backed up allegations from 11 different women, including current and former staffers, who claimed Cuomo acted inappropriately toward them through comments, unwanted touching and more.

Cuomo repeatedly and vehemently denied making inappropriate sexual advances toward any of the women, but nonetheless was met with mounting opposition and calls for his resignation, including from President Biden. The New York State Assembly expedited its impeachment investigation into Cuomo and planned to make a decision on whether to introduce articles of impeachment within the next few weeks.

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Geopolitics

Why is no one buying modern Chinese fighter jets?

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2 weeks ago

June 16, 2022

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Not many countries are currently buying Chinese fighter jets because they want a sure thing when they go into combat. China has ambitions to become a major player in the military aviation market. With aircraft like the J-31 stealth fighter, China hopes to provide a lower-cost alternative to the popular US F-35 stealth fighter.

China has made incredible progress but has an uphill battle in challenging the F-35 with the J-31. The US has been designing, testing, manufacturing, and improving stealth fighters for over 40 years and has already built and flown a 6th generation fighter. China is the new kid on the block, and they are quickly overtaking Russia in aviation technology.

China lacks a significant combat and sales record for their aircraft. Although Chinese aircraft are less expensive than western fighters, their combat performance is a question mark and countries with money prefer to buy a fighter that has been mass produced, tested in multiple countries, and is combat tested. China may be the new kid on the block, but they are highly capable and on a fast pace to challenge competitors with advanced technology.

Politics

Kenya presidential candidate promises to hang men who abuse wives

Published

2 weeks ago

June 14, 2022

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Roots Party of Kenya presidential candidate George Wajackoyah says his government has ideal plans in place to end gender-based violence.

Should he win the presidency, Wajackoyah said he will introduce the death penalty for men who will be found guilty of abusing their wives.

While campaigning in Kirinyaga, the presidential hopeful said his government will hang men who slap their other halves. Apart from abusive men, the learned politician had initially said he would reintroduce capital punishment for corruption offenders through constitutional review.

During the Sunday, June 12 rally, Wajackoyah, whose campaign slogan is Tingiza Miti literally means to shake the trees, said he will also improve the lives of men in uniform. He noted that he was a policeman before and so he understands their predicament. Should he win the presidency, he promised to buy each policeman a car and house so that they do not solicit bribes from people. He also pledged to improve their salaries. The 61-year-old academician said his main aim will be to ensure people have money in their pockets and are happy.

Politics

A weed-loving professor is seeking Kenya’s presidency

Published

2 weeks ago

June 13, 2022

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Presidential aspirant George Luchiri Wajackoyah, 61, has kicked off his Campaigns on a ‘high’ note promising corrupt judicial officers that he will hang them.

Besides relocating the capital city from Nairobi to North Eastern region, the Roots Party aspirant said he will also suspend the constitution for six months so as to launch a conversation with Kenyans on how to entrench the death penalty in the laws of the land as well as legalise industrial marijuana.

“Judiciary is one of the biggest stumbling block in realising aspirations of a prosperous nation. I will adopt a style whereby if you suspect yourself to be corrupt, we encourage you to kill yourself or if we try you and you are convicted, you be killed,” he said.

He said the ideality of moving the capital to say, Isiolo will open up the northern frontiers as administrative capital, freeing Nairobi to be an industrial hub.

Saying “I am not all that stupid,” Wajackoyah dismissed the motion that he is a joker and a nuisance contestant, saying that “those discriminatory traits are so irking.”

He took issue with the Infotrak pollster results released on Wednesday showing his competitors– Raila Odinga and Dr William Ruto– as the only serious candidates, ignoring him and Mwaure Waihiga by according them no rating.

Wajackoyah, who was accompanied on Citizen TV by his 35 year old running mate–Justina Wangui Wamae said on July 2, they will be releasing their 12-point manifesto to drive their state house bid.

She said she does not smoke bhang “despite our ticket being widely accused of exhibiting signs of its users.”

Mr Wajackoyah says introducing industrial hemp will help pay off the debt.

In an interview on Wednesday night on Citizen TV, Mr Wajackoyah argued that if Kenyans are allowed to grow bhang for export, that would likely increase money circulation in the economy, claiming that a sack can be sold for $3.2 million.

“The solution is growing marijuana, which will enable this country to [pay its] outstanding debts. Have enough money, have enough money for all Kenyans. And if one sack of marijuana is $3.2 million, if you convert that into Kenyan currencies, it is a lot,” he said.

He said there should be no worries about finding a market for the marijuana.

“We are going to export it, not import it. We’re going to grow it and export it. I’m just back from the United States and Canada during my research and trust me, there are so many companies … telling me please we have the market ready here in Canada,” he said.

He said marijuana, which he claimed he has never smoked, remains the country’s gold that needs to be exploited to catalyse the nation’s economic growth.

Mr Wajackoyah also said farming snakes will help supply venom for the manufacture of medicines and for export.

“A lot of people are bitten by snakes in this country and we have to wait for snake doses from outside the country through pharmaceutical corporations,” he said, adding that one way of paying off the national debt “more so those of Chinese is by extracting snake venoms for them”.

e Kenyans free medical services. We are also going to create more employment opportunities,” she said.

Citing countries without written constitutions, Mr Wajackoyah took a jab at the Judiciary, saying that it is the biggest impediment in Kenya’s democratic growth.

“We have countries like Israel, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom which don’t have written constitutions. They welcome conventions,” he said.