Kathy Hochul announces 2022 run, insists she didn’t know about Cuomo misconduct

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Governor-in-waiting Kathy Hochul on Thursday declared that she will run for reelection next year, as she again separated herself from disgraced departing Gov. Andrew Cuomo, saying any alleged sexual misconduct happened in an “insular” environment.

“Yes, I will,” the lieutenant governor said on NBC’s “Today,” her first public indication that she’ll run in 2022. “I fully expect to.”

“I’m prepared for this,” continued Hochul. “I am the most prepared person to assume this responsibility and I and I’m going to ask the voters at some point for their faith in me again, but right now, I need that faith, I need their prayers, and I need their support to make sure we get this right.”

Hochul, a former representative of Buffalo’s 26th District in Congress, predicted Empire State voters will appreciate her work ethic, promising that she “wont let New Yorkers down.”

“I’m confident they’ll see that I fight like hell every single day,” she said. “It’s how I’m hardwired, and I’m looking forward to this challenge, and I won’t let New Yorkers down.”

Hochul’s announcement comes as a handful of Democrats have made preliminary moves to swoop in during Cuomo’s stunning fall from grace.

State Attorney General Letitia James, Mayor Bill de Blasio, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and Rep. Tom Suozzi of Long Island have all also made early-stage moves toward potential bids for governor.

Meanwhile, Hochul insisted she did not witness or know of sexual harassment documented in James’ sexual harassment probe, saying the environment in which the alleged sexual misconduct took place was “insular.”

“That was very much an insular situation, what was going on in his office,” she said.

Hochul claimed that since she was traversing New York State, she hadn’t “been in the rooms” where Cuomo allegedly perpetuated the serial, illegal sexual misconduct.

“I think if anyone knows my career, they know that I’ve not been close to the governor. It’s no secret, and my schedule reflects [that] I spend very little time in Albany, except when I’m presiding over the Senate,” she told NBC’s Savannah Guthrie. “I’ve not been in the rooms when this has happened, and it is actually sickening to me to see this surface.”

Also Thursday, Hochul reiterated her pledge to create a clean break between her upcoming administration and the current governor’s, by booting staffers and officials involved in Cuomo’s downfall-inducing scandals.

Among her “very first steps” she vowed to take in 12 days is “ensuring” that anyone who the report found was “involved in any kind of unethical behavior will no longer be part of this administration.”

“They’re gone on day one, so let’s get that very clear,” she said.

Marking the end of a historic fall from grace, Cuomo announced Tuesday that he will resign, effect in two weeks.

Hochul said Wednesday that Cuomo’s choice to create 14-day waiting period between his resignation announcement and his lieutenant taking over is not one she wanted.

“It’s not what I asked for,” Hochul said during a press conference in Albany of the disgraced governor’s plan.

“However, I’m looking forward to a smooth transition, which he promised.”

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