Another day, another Democrat.

Even though Long Island State Senator Todd Kaminsky has called for Governor Andrew Cuomo to step down, that didn’t keep him from stepping up to the mic at an event in his district that was closed to the public and to the media.

What You Need To Know

  • Senator Todd Kaminsky appeared at an event with Cuomo, despite calling on him to resign over sexual harassment allegations

  • It comes one day after Democratic Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins appeared alongside Cuomo

  • Critics within the party say it helps normalize the very serious allegations against the governor

Kaminsky’s appearance follows Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who spoke at an event with Cuomo in her district in Yonkers on Wednesday despite her call last month for him to resign.

Some Democratic lawmakers aren’t happy with Kaminsky and Stewart-Cousins’ move.

“As a politician, you certainly want the public to know that you did the work, and you want to get credit for it,” Democratic Assemblyman Ron Kim said Thursday. “But you have to keep in mind that when we are out there standing with the executive who is in the middle of a number of scandals and sexual assault accusations which are credible, we are normalizing bad behavior.”

A spokesperson for Senator Kaminsky says he was there in his official capacity and added in a statement: “Sen. Kaminsky’s position on the governor has been clear and has not changed. Sen. Kaminsky also believes strongly that this event and others should be open to press.”

“For the women who came forward, I believe their stories and I think they were very brave in coming forward,” Democratic Assemblywoman Nily Rozic. “These women who have put themselves out there need to know that we take sexual harassment seriously and that lawmakers are not going to stand by and act as if nothing has happened.”

Other lawmakers have previously appeared publicly with Cuomo, even after allegations of sexual harassment had surfaced. But Cousins stood out because of her position on Cuomo, and her own position in government.

“I think image, and her actions speak louder than her statement,” Kim added. “When the public sees that picture with the governor and the majority leader, that’s the lasting image the public will have.”

Cuomo’s event was also closed to the press. Cuomo has been criticized for not allowing any reporters at his public appearances since December. He sometimes takes questions via Zoom, but in those instances his team carefully selects who gets called on.