NYS lawmaker who called for Cuomo to quit fumes when asked about joint appearance

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A state lawmaker who called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign over sexual harassment allegations appeared with him in Brooklyn on Wednesday and even exchanged kisses afterward — while also exploding in anger when asked about her contradictory actions.

Assemblywoman Diana Richardson (D-Brooklyn) — who, despite the appearance, hasn’t retracted her demand that Cuomo quit his position — blew up when The Post quoted a March statement in which she and state Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn) said he was no longer “entitled to remain” in office because he’d “irreparably damaged his trustworthiness and ability to lead.”

“I’m here today with the governor because politics is politics, business is business,” Richardson said at Wednesday’s news conference with Cuomo in Brooklyn.

“At the end of the day, we have a job to do.”

Richardson also said that asking about her call for Cuomo’s resignation last March was “inappropriate for the topic of this press conference.”

“We are in a state of emergency,” she said.

“This is not the time for us to be in our emotions and people’s personal endeavors. This is the time to be solution-oriented and focused.”

Richardson added: “If you’re going to ask a question today, please remain on topic. We don’t want divisive questions.”

Myrie was also present but didn’t speak and instead raised his hands in an apparent gesture of resignation when Richardson said, “What I just said is the statement that Sen. Myrie agrees with, as well.”

After the news conference ended, Richardson and Cuomo kissed each other and the governor told her, “I love you” as they stood off to the side.

The event followed a meeting between elected officials and Brooklyn community leaders to discuss the city’s surge in shootings.

Richardson’s mention of “a state of emergency” apparently referred to Cuomo’s July 6 declaration of a state of “disaster emergency” over gun violence across the state.

At the time she and Myrie called on Cuomo to resign, the state was still in the state of disaster emergency that the governor declared in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuomo lifted that declaration late last month.

Cuomo is the subject of probes by the state Attorney General’s Office and the Assembly Judiciary Committee into allegations that he sexually harassed and groped several current and former female aides.

Cuomo — whose handling of nursing homes amid the pandemic is also being investigated by federal law enforcement authorities — has denied any wrongdoing.

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