Video, Audio & Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Responds to Independent Reviewer Report

 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued the following response to the independent reviewer report. The position statement from Attorney Rita Glavin can be viewed here.

VIDEO of the Governor's response is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.

AUDIO is available here.

A rush transcript of the Governor's response is available below:

Over the past several months, you have heard a number of complaints brought against me. I called for an independent review, and I said at the beginning, I would let the process unfold. I didn't want anyone to say that I interfered. I said I would hold my tongue and I have - making only limited comments.

It has been a hard and a painful period for me and my family. Especially as others feed ugly stories to the press, but I cooperated with the review and I can now finally share the truth. My attorney, who was a nonpolitical, former federal prosecutor, has done a response to each allegation and the facts are much different than what has been portrayed.

That document is available on my website. If you are interested, please take the time to read the facts and decide for yourself. 

First, I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances. I am 63 years old. I have lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just not who I am and that's not who I have ever been.

There is one complaint that has been made that bothered me most. That was a complaint made by a young woman, Charlotte Bennett, who worked in my office. And it's important to me that you fully understand the situation.

Charlotte worked in my office last year as an assistant. She was smart, talented, and eager to learn. She identified herself to me as a survivor of sexual assault. She said that she came to work in my administration because of all the progress we had made in fighting sexual assault. She talked about the personal trauma that she endured and how she was handling it.

I could see how it affected her. I could see her pain. People now ask me, why was I even talking to this young woman? If I knew she was dealing with such issues, why did I even engage with her? That is the obvious and fair question, and one I have thought a lot about.

The truth is that her story resonated deeply with me. I had heard the same story before with the same ugliness, the same injustice, the same damage. Not only had I heard this story before, I had lived with this story before. My own family member is a survivor of sexual assault in high school. I have watched her live and suffer with the trauma. I would do anything to make it go away for her, but it never really goes away.

I spent countless days and nights working through these issues with her and therapists and counselors. I'm Governor of the State of New York, but I felt powerless to help and felt that I had failed her. I couldn't take the pain away. I still can't and this young woman brought it all back. She's about the same age.

I thought I had learned a lot about the issue from my family's experience. I thought I could help her work through a difficult time. I did ask her questions I don't normally ask people. I did ask her how she was doing and how she was feeling. And I did ask questions to try to see if she had positive supportive dating relationships.

I know too well, the manifestations of sexual assault trauma and the damage that it can do in the aftermath. I was trying to make sure she was working her way through it the best she could. I thought I had learned enough and had enough personal experience to help. But I was wrong. 

I have heard Charlotte and her lawyer and I understand what they are saying, but they read into comments that I made and draw inferences that I never meant. They ascribe motives I never had. And simply put, they heard things that I just didn't say.

Charlotte, I want you to know that I am truly and deeply sorry. I brought my personal experience into the workplace and I shouldn't have done that. I was trying to help - obviously I didn't. I am even more sorry that I further complicated the situation. My goal was the exact opposite. I wish nothing but good for you, and for all survivors of sexual assault.

There is another complaint that I want to address from a woman in my office who said that I groped her in my home office. Let me be clear. That never happened. She wants anonymity and I respect that. So I am limited of what I can say, but her lawyer has suggested that she will file a legal claim for damages. That will be decided in a court of law. Trial by newspaper or biased reviews are not the way to find the facts in this matter. I welcome the opportunity for a full and fair review before a judge and a jury, because this just did not happen. 

Other complainants raised against me questions that have sought to unfairly characterize and weaponize everyday interactions that I've had with any number of New Yorkers.

The New York Times published a front page picture of me touching a woman's face at a wedding, and then kissing her on the cheek. That is not front-page news. I've been making the same gesture in public all my life. I actually learned it from my mother and from my father. It is meant to convey warmth, nothing more.

Indeed there are hundreds, if not thousands of photos of me using the exact same gesture. I do it with everyone. Black and white, young and old, straight and LGBTQ, powerful people, friends, strangers, people who I meet on the street after the event, the woman told the press that she took offense at the gesture.

And for that, I apologize. Another woman stated that I kissed her on the forehead at our Christmas party and that I said, "ciao Bella." Now I don't remember doing it, but I'm sure that I did. I do kiss people on the forehead. I do kiss people on the cheek. I do kiss people on the hand. I do embrace people. I do hug people, men and women.

I do on occasion say, "ciao, Bella."  On occasion, I do slip and say "sweetheart," or "darling," or "honey." I do banter with people. I do tell jokes, some better than others. I am the same person in public as I am in private. You have seen me do it on TV, through all my briefings, and for 40 years before that.

I try to put people at ease. I try to make them smile. I try to connect with them and I try to show my appreciation and my friendship. I now understand that there are generational or cultural perspectives that frankly, I hadn't fully appreciated. And I have learned from this. Now the State already has an advanced sexual harassment training program for all employees, including me, but I want New York State government to be a model of office behavior, and I brought in an expert to design a new sexual harassment policy and procedures, and to train the whole team, myself included. I accept responsibility and we are making changes.

Other complaints relate to the work environment. Now, I have always said, my office is a demanding place to work and that it is not for everyone. We work really, really hard. My office is no typical nine to five government office, and I don't want it to be - the stakes we deal with are very high. Sometimes even life and death. We have to get the job done. I promised you that I would, and I will.

But now a number of complaints, target female managers, which smacks to me of a double standard. First, when have you ever seen male managers maligned and villainized for working long hours or holding people accountable or for being tough? A strong male manager is respected and rewarded. But a strong female manager is ridiculed and stereotyped. It is a double standard. It is sexist and it must be challenged.

Also, remember where we are. Today we are living in a superheated, if not toxic political environment - that shouldn't be lost on anyone. Politics and bias are interwoven throughout every aspect of this situation. One would be naive to think otherwise, and New Yorkers are not naive.

I understand these dynamics. My father used to say, God rest his soul, that politics is an ugly business. As usual he was right. But for my father and for me, it's worth it, because despite it all, at the end of the day, we get good things done for people. And that is what really matters. And for those who are using this moment to score political points or seek publicity or personal gain, I say they actually discredit the legitimate sexual harassment victims that the law was designed to protect.

My last point is this: I say to my daughters all the time that as complicated as life gets is as simple as life is.  My job is not about me, my job is about you. What matters to me at the end of the day is getting the most done I can for you.

And that is what I do every day. And I will not be distracted from that job. We have a lot to do. We still have to manage the COVID beast. It is not dead yet. It's not over. We then have to reopen and re-imagine our state. Because our future is going to be what we make it. I know we can do these things because I know the strength and the character of New Yorkers.  Look at the progress we made on COVID -- it is amazing. We went from the highest infection rate in the country to one of the lowest infection rates in the country. Nobody thought that we could do it, but New Yorkers did it. That shows that there's nothing that we can't do when we work together. Together, together as one, as one community, as one family, as New Yorkers, we will.

Thank you.

Attorney Rita Glavin Releases Detailed Response to Independent Reviewer Report on Allegations Against Governor Cuomo

 

Attorney Rita Glavin of Glavin PLLC released a detailed response to the Independent Reviewer Report on allegations against Governor Andrew M. Cuomo that was issued earlier today.   

The Eighty-five page position statement can be viewed here.

PUBLIC ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS STATEMENT ON NEW NYC VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

 

 "Vaccination screens for a wide range of activities and spaces are one of the best ways we can both encourage more New Yorkers to get vaccinated and limit the spread of the Delta variant as we continue that work. I thank and applaud the Mayor for announcing this policy and urge businesses to adopt it voluntarily ahead of the mandated deadlines.

"I also believe that vaccine requirements and mask requirements are not mutually exclusive - masks will help us to keep case rates down as vaccination rates go up, and requiring masks indoors for a limited period, regardless of vaccination status, is a critical part of protecting our city amid the current surge."

BRONX DA DARCEL CLARK, MANHATTAN DA CY VANCE JR. AND NYPD COMMISSIONER DERMOT SHEA ANNOUNCE CHARGES AGAINST GANG MEMBERS FOR 2 INNOCENT BYSTANDER SHOOTINGS, STEALING FROM 10 RIDESHARE DRIVERS, $300K THEFT OF PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS AND POSSESSING 12 GUNS

 

Defendants Charged in Bronx Car Dealership Shootout that Wounded Man Shielding His Children, and in Shooting that Wounded Woman Walking on Street

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. and New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea today announced that alleged members of the “20- 30” crew, AKA “30 Block,” have been charged in Manhattan and the Bronx for financial crimes and violence. Eight defendants are indicted in the Bronx on 155 counts, including Conspiracy to Commit Murder. In Manhattan, five of those defendants are charged in a complaint with sophisticated thievery that targeted Uber and Lyft drivers as well as state unemployment funds, netting them hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “These alleged gang members are charged with the two gang activities that plague our communities—financial crimes and wanton gun violence. Manhattan DA Vance’s Office and the NYPD began investigating them for stealing from rideshare drivers and other thefts and executed search warrants in their Bronx homes that recovered seven firearms. My Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau then conducted an investigation and tied the gang to the shootout in a car dealership where a father was wounded while protecting his kids, and to a shooting on the street targeting rival gang members that instead wounded a 52-year-old woman for life. Our investigation also recovered five guns and two large capacity magazines. With our law enforcement partners, I will not let people destroy the Bronx bullet by bullet.” 

 District Attorney Vance said, “We’ve made it our mission to modernize and reposition the Manhattan D.A.’s Office to confront contemporary threats to New Yorkers, and this case shows how the investments we’ve made to become a global leader in cyber are having a real-world impact on the safety of our communities. As alleged, members of 30 Block did not limit their pandemic crimes to stealing from essential workers or plundering unemployment funds meant to be a lifeline for the most vulnerable – they also helped drive a surge of gun violence in what would become a very bloody summer. Thanks to the expertise of my Office’s Cybercrime and Identity Theft Bureau, we were able to unravel these massive schemes, and help unmask the perpetrators of multiple shootings. This case drives home the need for collaboration across boroughs, and I thank the Bronx D.A.’s Office, the NYPD, and all of our law enforcement partners for their work on this investigation.”

 NYPD Commissioner Shea said, “These alleged gang members are charged with using elaborate financial crimes to fuel a violent lifestyle that harmed innocent New Yorkers and tore at the fabric of life in two boroughs. But our investigators and prosecutors, worked together to stop them, once again highlighting our intelligence-driven approach to building strong cases, getting illegal guns off our streets and keeping New Yorkers safe.”

 Rick J. Patel, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, New York, said, “Today’s criminal charges are a real victory against gang violence. Gangs threaten the safety of our communities and our way of life. Dangerous gangs like the 20-30 crew contribute to the decay of our neighborhoods by bringing drugs, illicit activities, and other violent crimes to our streets. The magnitude of this operation will have a huge ripple effect on this criminal enterprise and public safety.”

 District Attorney Clark said seven of the defendants were arraigned on July 28, 2021 and July 30, 2021 in Bronx Supreme Court on an indictment charging second-degree Conspiracy (Conspiracy to Commit Murder), Attempted Murder in the second degree, first-degree Assault, second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, third-degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and other charges. They were remanded.

 District Attorney Vance said the four defendants in the Manhattan case would be arraigned today in Manhattan Criminal Court on second-degree Grand Larceny, first-degree Identity Theft, and fifth-degree Conspiracy among other charges, for their roles in the scheme to steal from rideshare drivers, and the theft of unemployment benefits.

 The Manhattan DA’s Office’s investigation began in May 2020, when the Office’s Cybercrime and Identity Theft Bureau was examining complaints made to the NYPD during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. Beginning with a single $750 theft from a Lyft driver, the Manhattan DA’s Office uncovered an extensive high-tech scheme targeting rideshare drivers. In total, between January and April 2020, defendants Daijon Crawford AKA “Dayday,” Aaron Heredia AKA “Whitey,” Zykeith Fearon, AKA “Kaykay,” and Kelechi Ogidi AKA “Dresser Mouth,” allegedly stole approximately $6,500 from drivers working for companies like Lyft and Uber. As alleged, the defendants booked rides – targeting more than 50 drivers – with a destination address that was nearly identical to the pick-up address. When the driver noticed the problem, the defendants would ask the driver to call a friend to get the correct address, and then borrow the driver’s phone for the conversation. While another passenger distracted the driver, the defendants quickly transferred the drivers’ in-app earnings to their own personal bank accounts using debit cards and mobile banking apps like Cash App.

 During the investigation of these rideshare thefts, investigators observed several of the defendants posting photos of cash and postal money orders on their social media accounts. With assistance from the United States Postal Service, the Manhattan DA’s Office determined that these postal money orders were purchased with debit cards loaded with fraudulently obtained pandemicrelated unemployment benefits. Between May and September 2020, the four defendants and Akeyle Baker AKA “Akey Goon,” used stolen identities to successfully receive more than $300,000 of pandemic-related unemployment funds from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Additionally, three defendants received more than $50,000 in unemployment benefits directly from New York State.

 In October 2020, the Manhattan DA’s Office, the NYPD, and other law enforcement partners executed search warrants on the defendants’ homes in the Wakefield section of the Bronx, Yonkers, and Mount Vernon. Investigators recovered more than $100,000 in cash and money orders, more than 150 credit and debit cards, and a laptop open to an out-of-state online unemployment application, as well as loaded firearms.

 Akeyle Baker allegedly possessed two 9-mm pistols and a .45-caliber pistol and two high capacity magazines. Daijon Crawford allegedly possessed two loaded 9 mm pistols, several rounds of ammunition and a quantity of fentanyl and Tramadol. Aaron Heredia allegedly possessed a loaded 9mm pistol, two large capacity ammunition feeding devices, several rounds of ammunition and a quantity of cocaine. Zykeith Fearon allegedly possessed a loaded .40 caliber pistol and two large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

 Based on the evidence obtained in the Manhattan DA’s search warrants, the Bronx DA’s Office and the Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau launched its own investigation into the violent crimes committed by members of the 20-30 gang.

 According to the indictment in the Bronx, on or about August 9, 2020, defendant Baker sent a message on an instant messaging app stating that the chat participants need an address of a member of the rival Mac Baller gang in order to go and shoot him. On or about August 10, 2020, defendant Zykeith Fearon sent a message reminding the chat participants to have a firearm readily available: “friendly reminder to carry artillery everywhere…”

 According to the investigation, on September 21, 2020, defendants Baker, Heredia, Crawford, Fearon, and others exchanged dozens of messages on an instant messaging app in which they agreed and planned to shoot the rival gang member. Later that day, 20-30 crew members went to a car dealership at 4077 Boston road, where their intended target was looking at luxury vehicles.

 Defendants Baker, Fearon and Crawford allegedly fired multiple shots at their target, and he returned fire. A 39-year-old Bronx man who was there to buy a car with his three children was caught in the shootout and was struck three times as he shielded his children with his body. A bullet remains in his thigh.

 According to the investigation, in the afternoon of September 30, 2020, on East 224th Street, Delroy Salmon AKA “Dboy,” acting with others, allegedly shot at an unidentified rival gang member, but struck an innocent bystander, a 52-year-old woman who suffered a life-altering injury. Salmon later sent a text saying, “just had a shoot out.”

 Defendant Tahari Pritchard AKA “Binny,” was charged with possessing a loaded pistol in January 2021 and was charged with Dorien Alexander AKA “Gz” in March 2021 for possessing four loaded firearms.

 Defendants: Akeyle Baker, 22 Daijon Crawford, 21 Zykeith Fearon, 21 Aaron Heredia, 21. Tahari Pritchard, 20 Kelechi Ogidi, 21 Delroy Salmon, 21 Dorien Alexander, 20

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - AUGUST 3, 2021

 

31,802 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

5 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combatting COVID-19.

"The vaccine is the weapon that will win the war against COVID, but too many still have not taken advantage of its availability," Governor Cuomo said. "Every single unvaccinated individual provides the virus an opportunity to mutate into a strain that may be even more harmful than those that came before it. The vaccine is free, accessible and effective, so if you haven't already, get yours today."

  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 84,610 
• Total Positive - 2,932 
• Percent Positive - 3.47% 
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 2.65% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 852 (+64) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 135 
• Patients in ICU - 172 (+10) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 62 (+6) 
• Total Discharges - 187,063 (+80) 
• Deaths - 5 
• Total Deaths - 43,098 
• Total vaccine doses administered - 22,356,613 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 31,802 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 272,965 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 72.7% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 67.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 75.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 68.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 60.9% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 55.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 63.3%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 57.3%

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Agreement With Bermudian Bank To Resolve Criminal Tax Investigation

 

The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited Pays $5.6 Million in Forfeiture and Restitution; Receives Non-Prosecution Agreement as a Result of its Cooperation

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Stuart M. Goldberg, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and James C. Lee, Chief of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today that Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited (“BUTTERFIELD”) entered into a non-prosecution agreement (“NPA”) with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and agreed to pay $5.6 million to the United States for assisting U.S. taxpayer-clients in opening and maintaining undeclared foreign bank accounts from 2001 through 2013.  The NPA was based on BUTTERFIELD’s extraordinary cooperation, including its efforts in providing 386 client files for non-compliant U.S. taxpayer-clients, and provides that BUTTERFIELD will not be criminally prosecuted.  The NPA requires BUTTERFIELD to forfeit $4.896 million to the United States, representing certain fees that it earned by assisting its U.S. taxpayer-clients in opening and maintaining these undeclared accounts, and to pay $704,000 in restitution to the IRS, representing the approximate unpaid taxes arising from the tax evasion by BUTTERFIELD’s U.S. taxpayer-clients.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Butterfield admits to helping its clients conceal their ownership of foreign bank accounts to avoid their U.S. tax obligations.  Butterfield created sham entities and assisted U.S. clients in funneling money between U.S.- and Cayman Islands-based accounts.  The resolution of this matter through a non-prosecution agreement, along with forfeiture and restitution, reflects Butterfield’s cooperation in our investigation and demonstrates that cooperation, including assistance in providing U.S. taxpayer client files, has tangible benefits.  We will continue to pursue financial services firms around the world that help their clients evade U.S. taxes.”

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg said: “As part of the resolution announced today, Butterfield has facilitated the production of approximately 386 unredacted client files.  Taxpayers contemplating hiding money offshore and those who would facilitate their fraud should take note – nothing remains hidden forever.”

IRS-CI Chief James C. Lee said: “As a result of the successful resolution of this investigation, Butterfield has agreed to turn over account files relating to U.S. taxpayer-clients who maintained undeclared assets overseas. This agreement marks yet another significant step forward in combating offshore tax evasion.  Anyone who is hiding money or assets offshore with the intent of committing tax evasion will be found and prosecuted. It’s not a matter of ‘if,’ it’s a matter of ‘when.’”

As part of the NPA, BUTTERFIELD admitted various facts concerning its wrongful conduct and the remedial measures that it took to cease that conduct.  Specifically, BUTTERFIELD admitted that it knew or should have known certain U.S. taxpayers were using their BUTTERFIELD accounts to evade their U.S. tax obligations, in violation of U.S. law.  BUTTERFIELD acknowledged that it helped certain U.S. taxpayer-clients conceal from the IRS their beneficial ownership of undeclared assets maintained in foreign bank accounts by: (i) maintaining undeclared accounts for U.S. taxpayer-clients that were held by sham entities – structures that had no legitimate business purpose – even though Bank personnel knew, or should have known, that the entities were being used to conceal the identities of the true account owners; and (ii) opening accounts and facilitating the transfer of funds for U.S. taxpayer-clients despite obvious red flags that the U.S. clients were using the accounts to maintain undeclared assets or commit tax evasion.

The NPA recognizes that, in 2013, BUTTERFIELD implemented a series of remedial measures to stop assisting U.S. taxpayers evading federal income taxes.  The NPA further recognizes BUTTERFIELD’s cooperation, including its efforts to facilitate the production of approximately 386 client files for non-compliant U.S. taxpayers, which included the identities of those U.S. taxpayers.

As part of the NPA, BUTTERFIELD has agreed to forfeit $4.896 million to the United States, representing the gross revenues from services that it provided to U.S. taxpayers with undeclared foreign bank accounts from 2001 through 2013.  In connection with this forfeiture, BUTTERFIELD has agreed not to contest a civil forfeiture action filed by the United States.

The NPA requires BUTTERFIELD to continue to cooperate with the United States for at least three years from the date of the agreement.  In the event that BUTTERFIELD violates the NPA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office may prosecute BUTTERFIELD.

Ms. Strauss thanked the IRS for its outstanding work in the investigation of this matter and thanked the Tax Division of the Department of Justice for its assistance in the investigation.

Attorney General James' Statement on Cooperation with NYS Assembly Investigation Into Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Governor Cuomo

 

  New York Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement about the independent investigators' cooperation with the New York State Assembly’s investigation into sexual harassment claims made against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo:

“At the Assembly’s request, we have provided the Assembly Judiciary Committee with the report that was released today, and we will provide them with all relevant evidence. We will cooperate with their investigation as needed.”

Socialist Legislators Demand an Immediate Return To Session To Impeach Governor Cuomo

 

Five Socialist State Legislators Urge The Legislature To Begin Formal Impeachment Proceedings

 In light of the release of the Attorney General’s report on Governor Cuomo’s pattern of sexual harassment, State Senator Julia Salazar, State Senator Jabari Brisport, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest, and Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani issued the following statement:

“As state representatives, we urge Speaker Heastie to swiftly reconvene the Assembly to begin formal impeachment proceedings.

In March of this year, we called for Governor’s Cuomo’s impeachment because the accusations against him warranted decisive action. Several women had come forward to share their experiences of sexual harassment. Furthermore, the Attorney General had recently confirmed that the Governor covered up thousands of deaths due to COVID-19 in New York nursing homes.

The release of the Attorney General’s report today affirms the testimony of numerous women — all of the survivors who spoke out last spring as well as others who have reported harassment through this investigation. This damning report reveals what those who work with the Governor know: his behavior is predatory, abusive and tyrannical. Additionally, the Attorney General’s report found that the accounts of Governor Cuomo’s blatant misuse of power were not isolated incidents, but were ‘part of a pattern’ of abuse. The details of the report are appalling. It is clear that Governor Cuomo is unfit to lead New York State.

Given the Governor's egregious violations of his oath of office, it is the responsibility of the Legislature to begin the impeachment process without delay.”