Biden says Cuomo should resign if allegations are true
17 March 2021
President Biden told ABC News Tuesday that if allegations of sexual misconduct against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) are confirmed, he should resign.
Why it matters: These are Biden's strongest words yet on his longtime friend and ally. Only two days ago, the president said he'd wait for the outcome of an investigation into the harassment and misconduct allegations leveled against Cuomo before commenting on whether the governor should resign.
- The only Democratic figure who could likely persuade Cuomo to resign is Biden, per Axios' Jonathan Swan.
Of note: Cuomo continues to deny all allegations leveled against him.
What they're saying: In his interview with Biden, ABC News' George Stephanopoulos said, "I know you said you want the investigation to continue. If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?"
- Biden replied: "Yes. I think he'll probably end up being prosecuted, too."
Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Transcripts show George Floyd told police "I can't breathe" over 20 times
Section2Newly released transcripts of bodycam footage from the Minneapolis Police Department show that George Floyd told officers he could not breathe more than 20 times in the moments leading up to his death.
Why it matters: Floyd's killing sparked a national wave of Black Lives Matter protests and an ongoing reckoning over systemic racism in the United States. The transcripts "offer one the most thorough and dramatic accounts" before Floyd's death, The New York Times writes.
The state of play: The transcripts were released as former officer Thomas Lane seeks to have the charges that he aided in Floyd's death thrown out in court, per the Times. He is one of four officers who have been charged.
- The filings also include a 60-page transcript of an interview with Lane. He said he "felt maybe that something was going on" when asked if he believed that Floyd was having a medical emergency at the time.
What the transcripts say:
- Floyd told the officers he was claustrophobic as they tried to get him into the squad car.
- The transcripts also show Floyd saying, "Momma, I love you. Tell my kids I love them. I'm dead."
- Former officer Derek Chauvin, who had his knee on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes, told Floyd, "Then stop talking, stop yelling, it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk."
Read the transcripts via DocumentCloud.