War of words erupts between Stefanik & Cuomo as governor calls for Trump’s resignation

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWNY) - Governor Cuomo on Friday told New York’s federal representatives to call on President Trump to resign after the events in the Capitol this week.

During a news conference, Cuomo told the state’s lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to put politics aside and be reasonable.

He said there’s no reasonable American - Democrat or Republican - who saw the events in the Capitol and said, “This is okay.”

7 News asked the governor if he agreed with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D. - NY), who said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R. - 21st District) is complicit in what President Trump has done to this country.

“The question is: if you don’t support who he is and what he did, ask him to resign. And if you don’t ask him to resign, then you are complicit. Congresswoman Stefanik, you believe he should resign? Yes or no? And if they say they don’t think he should resign, then yeah, you are complicit, you’re part of it, you’ve condoned it. You’re part of the mob,” said Cuomo.

Stefanik issued this statement:

“Governor Cuomo continues to earn the title of the Worst Governor in America. Governor Cuomo is responsible for the deaths of thousands of seniors in nursing homes, the crippling of our small business economy in NY, the state’s population mass exodus, and the abysmal vaccination rollout disaster. He is the Emperor with No Clothes and he should resign and end his disgraceful reign of corruption and failed leadership. I proudly stand up for the vast majority of my North Country constituents who voted to re-elect me with the largest number of votes for any congressional candidate in the history of the North Country. I fully condemned the dangerous violence and destruction that occurred Wednesday at the United States Capitol. Americans have a Constitutional right to protest and freedom of speech, but violence in any form is absolutely unacceptable and anti-American. The perpetrators of this un-American violence and destruction must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you to the United States Capitol Police, all law enforcement, the National Guard, and the bipartisan professional staff of the United States Capitol for protecting the People’s House and the American people.”

Alex DeGrasse, senior advisor to Congresswoman Stefanik, added this statement:

“As the Governor and his team are well aware, he is a toxic and despised political bully in the North Country where even local elected Democrats fear associating with his name. This unhinged attack from Governor Cuomo and his sycophant goons will only help Congresswoman Stefanik’s polling and profile continue to skyrocket in Upstate New York.”

A headline accompanying Stefanik’s statement, which 7 News did not report, has created further rancor. The title was: ‘Statement Responding to the Worst Governor in America Calling for Congresswoman Stefanik’s Resignation.’

At no time did Cuomo call for Stefanik’s resignation. In Stefanik’s statement, she makes no reference to resignation.

Friday evening, Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa took issue with the title.

She tweeted about it Friday evening, saying “He didn’t call for your resignation, @EliseStefanik — he called for Trump’s...although since you are one and the same I understand your confusion.”

Later in the evening, Stefanik had this to say:

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