A bill has been introduced in the New York State Assembly in an effort to prevent former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s portrait from being included in Albany’s Hall of Governors.
Republican Assemblyman Doug Smith of Long Island introduced the bill, which is called the Predator Portrait Prevention Act, so Cuomo’s picture isn’t placed on the second floor of the state’s capitol, per the New York Post. It asks to “prevent any governor who does not complete any term for which they are elected to be displayed in the state capitol building without the approval of the legislature.”
“Andrew Cuomo’s picture could very well be hanging on the wall in the Hall Of Governors despite the fact that he resigned in disgrace and his predatory behavior toward women,” Smith said.
The gallery, which has been curated by the state since 1813, was last redesigned by Cuomo in 2011 when he put the photos in chronological order. There is no law requiring former governors to take part in the gallery, as portraits are funded by those who know the governor.
The decision to include Cuomo, the Post reports, will likely be up to current Gov. Kathy Hochul, following Cuomo’s resignation in August of 2021 over several accusations of sexual harassment and a state attorney general probe on the matter.
“I think that he certainly is planning on it and he did serve for 11 years as governor,” former Gov. David Paterson told the publication. “He accomplished a lot and I would think given his history with Albany he would like to see his portrait hung, and I think it should be.”
