New York Attorney General Letitia James, 63, responsible for overseeing the inquiry that investigated sexual harassment committed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo, said on Friday (29) that she will run in the Democratic Party’s primaries for the governor’s government. state.
The announcement comes a day after Cuomo, 63, became the target of a criminal charge of sexual misdemeanor for groping a former employee. Months earlier, in August, the Democrat resigned from office, under pressure from members of his own party and the possibility of an impeachment process.
James is expected to compete in the Democratic primaries with Kathy Hochul, 63, deputy to Cuomo who took over the New York government after the governor’s resignation, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
In a scenario where the internal dispute and the electoral race won, the current attorney general, the first black woman elected to a state office, would also become the first black US governor.
“I’m running for governor of New York because I have the experience, vision and courage to stand up to the powerful on behalf of all New Yorkers,” she wrote on a social network when she announced her candidacy. Together, he posted a video in which, among other things, James says he sued the administration of former President Donald Trump 76 times. “But who’s counting?” he asks.
As Attorney General, James has become known for taking on prominent political figures and groups. Last year, it took action to dissolve the NRA (National Rifle Association), the most powerful arms lobby group in the US.
She also leads investigations examining whether the Trump Organization inflated property values ​​to get more advantageous loans and lowered property values ​​to get tax breaks.
In the last major lawsuit led by the prosecutor, it was concluded that Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women and violated state and federal laws while creating a “climate of fear” in the workplace.
On Wednesday (27), the American newspaper The New York Times anticipated that James’ cabinet had been looking for different democratic leaders in search of support for the announcement of the candidacy.
According to the vehicle, James kicks off with support from some of New York’s largest public and private sector employee unions. By running in a contest with no guarantees of victory, James, who was born and raised in the Brooklyn neighborhood, would give up a foothold.
The New York Times poll revealed that some Democrats preferred that she remain the attorney general to pursue cases of interest to the party, particularly those involving Trump and his family business.
It is unlikely that only she and Governor Kathy Hochul will compete in the primaries. Current New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Public Defender Jumaane D. Williams are expected to announce candidacies.
Williams, a black man and also from Brooklyn, could run for the same voter base as James, the leftmost wing of the Democratic Party. Rep. Thomas Suozzi is also considering running in the race, as is Steven Bellone, Suffolk County Executive.
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