Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should "answer" for his handling of nursing homes and casualties during the coronavirus pandemic, New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared Monday.
Adams made the comment when asked by a reporter if he believes "undercounting the number of COVID-related nursing home deaths disqualifies Cuomo for running for mayor."
"I’ve met with some of the nursing home family members and advocates. There's some things that we want to do with them. But he has to answer that question on the trail," Adams responded. "Should that be an automatic disqualification? No, I think it needs to be answered on the trail, exactly what happened. And I think some of those family members are going to be looking forward to that."
A report released in March 2022 by the New York state comptroller found Cuomo's Health Department "was not transparent in its reporting of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes" and it "understated the number of deaths at nursing homes by as much as 50%" during some points of the pandemic.
The former governor also was grilled by Republican lawmakers last year about a controversial directive his administration issued in March 2020 that initially barred nursing homes from refusing to accept patients who had tested positive for COVID-19.
More than 9,000 recovering coronavirus patients were released from hospitals into nursing homes under the directive, which was later rescinded amid speculation that it had accelerated outbreaks.
A state report later commissioned by Cuomo's successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, found that while the policies on how nursing homes should handle COVID-19 were "rushed and uncoordinated," they were based on the best understanding of the science at the time.
Representatives for Cuomo have denied he mishandled nursing homes during the pandemic.
Cuomo ultimately resigned from office in August 2021 following sexual harassment allegations, which he denies.
Over the weekend, Cuomo announced his New York City mayoral bid, saying in a video message that "[t]he city just feels threatening, out of control and in crisis."
When asked about the sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo, Adams said Cuomo also "has to answer that on the campaign trail."
"I believe the women [who] made the allegations, respect what they stated. I believe what they said based on the investigation and he has to answer that on the trail," Adams said.
Fox News’ Bradford Betz, Maria Paronich and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo seen at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Al Drago/Getty Images
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced his candidacy for New York City mayor.
Cuomo is challenging Mayor Eric Adams.
Cuomo resigned as governor in 2021 after several sexual harassment allegations.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched a bid for New York City mayor.
"Our city is in crisis. That's why I am running to be Mayor of New York City," Cuomo said in a social media announcement on Saturday. "We need government to work. We need effective leadership."
New York elected Cuomo governor in 2011. He served a decade before resigning in 2021 after he was accused of sexual harassment.
In a 17-minute video posted on X, Cuomo outlined his concerns about New York City, which he said feels "threatening, out of control, and in crisis."
"We know that today, our New York City is in trouble. You feel it when you walk down the street and try not to make eye contact with a mentally ill homeless person, or when the anxiety rises up in your chest when you're walking down into the subway," Cuomo said, speaking over soothing piano music. "You see it in the empty storefronts, the graffiti, the grime, the migrant influx, the random violence."
Cuomo blamed all this on the "lack of intelligent action by many of our political leaders."
His announcement comes after New York City's current mayor, Eric Adams, was federally charged with bribery and conspiracy in September. Adams has since faced calls to resign but has so far resisted.
Cuomo's resignation in 2021 followed an inquiry from New York Attorney General Letitia James. An investigation from her office found that Cuomo had harassed 11 women, including some of his own staff.
Cuomo's decision to step down cleared the way for then-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul to become the first female governor of New York, a position she still holds.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo launched his bid for New York City mayor with a video posted on his X account Saturday, a development that followed . months of speculation that he would launch a comeback after leaving office in August 2021.
In the announcement, Cuomo, who also previously served as the U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development, acknowledged that "the greatest city in the world" is facing several challenges, touching on rampant homelessness, "random violence," and other issues he believes are harming the Big Apple.
"We know that our New York City is in trouble," Cuomo says in the launch video. "You feel it when you walk down the street and try not to make eye contact with a mentally ill homeless person, or when the anxiety rises up in your chest as you're walking down the subway."
"The city just feels threatening, out of control and in crisis," Cuomo said, placing the blame on political leaders and their "lack of intelligent action."
Cuomo called for more police and tougher action on crime and homelessness in the city. He admitted that in NYC, "police have been devalued," but said he wanted to restore "mutual respect" between law enforcement and residents.
Additionally, Cuomo talked about the state of the city's subway system and lamented that "people stand with their backs against the walls, away from the tracks" because they fear "being the next victim" and are "afraid of New York at its worst." He also called for a"permanent significant increase" in police presence in the subways.
"Government just has to get out of its own way and get it done," Curomo said, referring to the state of NYC housing.
The former New York governor went on to tout his accomplishments, saying that "government can make a positive difference." In particular, Cuomo highlighted his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he called a "historic life and death challenge."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuomo became a national figure, with some referring to him as "America's governor." His daily briefings became a staple at the time. However, many criticized his policies when it came to housing sick patients in nursing homes.
In August 2021, amid sexual harassment allegations, Cuomo resigned, making way for now-New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to take his place. Cuomo denied the allegations.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has faced his own scandals, is running for reelection, but has an uphill battle as the city grapples with crime and homelessness.
New York City Democrats will pick their mayoral candidate in a primary election that is set for June 2025.
Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., has endorsed Andrew Cuomo to run for mayor of New York City in the latest blow to incumbent Democrat first-termer, Mayor Eric Adams.
"The two most important things we need are competence and courage," Torres, who represents the Bronx, told the New York Post.
"Andrew Cuomo has the competence to govern the city. He has the courage to stand up to extremist politics – both from the far left and far right," Torres said, adding: "We don’t need a Mr. Nice Guy. We need a Mr. Tough Guy."
Cuomo has not formally declared his candidacy for mayor but is rumored to announce soon.
"He has my endorsement as soon as he enters the race," Torres told the Post.
The former governor resigned in 2021 amid scandals connected to COVID-19 nursing home deaths and sexual harassment claims. Cuomo has always denied the allegations against him.
"I predict the comeback story of the 2025 election will be the resurrection of Andrew Cuomo," Torres told the Post. "America loves a comeback, New York loves a comeback."
Fox News Digital reached out to Torres' office for comment Monday and was referred to the congressman's appearance on CNBC.
"Andrew Cuomo is a common sense Democrat," Torres told CNBC Monday. "For me the two most important virtues in politics are competence and courage. And Andrew Cuomo has the competence to run New York City in a moment of crisis, and he has the courage to stand up to the extremes of American politics whether it's the far right or the far left. There's a mayoral candidate who openly identifies with the Democratic Socialists of America, which celebrated the mass murder of Jews on Oct. 7, and so when it comes to confronting political extremism in New York, when it comes to confronting the crisis of crime, we need not a nice guy, but a tough guy like Andrew Cuomo."
Asked whether it was an endorsement of Cuomo or an indictment of Adams, Torres said it was both, arguing that New York City is "in crisis" after four deputy mayors resigned and "the city is less safe than it should be."
"What we now need more than ever is the kind of stable and strong and steady leadership that Governor Cuomo can provide, and the effectiveness of Andrew Cuomo as an executive need not be taken on faith. It is a fact," Torres said. "We as New Yorkers every day live and feel the legacy of Andrew Cuomo as a great builder of New York City."
Last week, Cuomo disseminated a letter from former state comptroller Carl McCall, a prominent Democrat and Black elder statesman, backing him for mayor.
McCall endorsed Adams, who is New York City’s second Black mayor, in his 2021 campaign for the office.
Adams already faces multiple challengers in June's Democratic primary, but Cuomo is polling as the front-runner.
A federal judge on Friday canceled a corruption trial for Adams and appointed counsel to advise the court about President Donald Trump's Justice Department’s controversial request to drop charges against the mayor filed under the Biden administration. Adams has denied allegations of a quid pro quo agreement with the Trump administration, as the Democratic mayor cooperates with federal law enforcement on the president's criminal illegal immigration crackdown.
"I want a mayor who can governor independently of the far right and Donald Trump represents the far right," Torres told CNBC. "What I found striking is Donald Trump made the decision not to pardon Eric Adams or to permanently drop the charges, but only to do so temporarily, and so the fear of a reindictment keeps Mayor Adams permanently under the thumb of Donald Trump."
Judge Dale E. Ho's written order Friday means he will not decide before mid-March whether to grant the dismissal of the case against the embattled mayor of the nation’s largest city.
Ho said he appointed Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general under former President George W. Bush, to present arguments on the government’s request to drop the case.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has responded after a prominent ex-official endorsed him to run for mayor of New York City against incumbent first-termer Eric Adams.
Former state comptroller Carl McCall, 89, released an open letter backing Cuomo on Saturday. Cuomo has not formally declared his candidacy in the race, though he is polling as the top potential challenger to Adams in June's primary.
In response to the letter, Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid scandals connected to COVID-19 nursing home deaths and sexual harassment claims, acknowledged the history that he and his family share with McCall.
"Carl and I have a special bond that starts before me. I first had the pleasure of meeting Carl when I was in my early 20s when he worked with my father, the late Mario Cuomo, as the state's human rights commissioner and together the two fought to make New York a fairer, more just place for all who live here."
"In these divisive and troubling times, his voice is needed more than ever – for his is one of moral clarity, experience and guided by what is right for the people above all else," Cuomo wrote Saturday.
"Today, in these uncertain times, and after more than four decades of friendship and counsel, I thank him for his faith in me and for his advice, trust and confidence," Cuomo said. "His sentiments are both humbling and deeply meaningful."
In his letter, McCall did not cite Adams by name, but he appeared to indirectly slam how the Justice Department on Friday asked a court to dismiss corruption charges against Adams that were filed during the Biden administration. Adams met with President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, last week, agreeing to work together as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cracks down on criminal illegal immigrants.
"Donald Trump wants us to fail as a community. For that reason, the leadership of New York City has rarely, if ever, been as vital as it is today," McCall wrote. "The Mayor of New York must not only have the competence and capacity to manage the City’s real challenges, but the mayor must have the ability to defend our city and demonstrate a powerful counterbalance to President Trump. The people of New York cannot be represented by someone whose loyalty to the city is compromised — we deserve a Mayor of New York to be for New York."
McCall, a Black elder statesman who once ran in a contentious gubernational primary against Cuomo in 2002, turned on Adams, who is New York City’s second Black mayor. McCall endorsed Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign.
"I have never publicly urged a candidate to run for office. But I have never before felt it so necessary to use my voice," McCall wrote Saturday. "For these reasons, I urge Governor Andrew Cuomo to run for Mayor of the City of New York and I offer my full support."
"I’ve known Andrew for over 40 years. Some might be surprised that I am supporting Andrew so strongly and so early," the letter continued. "But despite how it is sometimes framed in the press, we were never political adversaries: twenty years ago, we were competing candidates who shared then and share now the same core values of what is right and wrong and sought to make New York a better place."
"More than anyone else, Andrew is the leader we need and the leader we deserve," McCall wrote.
Despite still not having declared a mayoral bid, Cuomo released a campaign-style video on Valentine's Day, in which he told senior citizens, "I missed you," and declaring that "the strongest four-letter word is not hate, it’s love."
Albany politicians have questioned Adams’ independence from Trump after the DOJ asked that the corruption charges be dropped, and some prosecutors resigned amid allegations of a quid pro quo agreement.
In response, Adams said Friday on X, "I want to be crystal clear with New Yorkers: I never offered — nor did anyone offer on my behalf — any trade of my authority as your mayor for an end to my case. Never."
As New York’s "congestion pricing" inner-city tolling plan takes effect Sunday, one of its major proponents is questioning whether the timing is right for a policy meant to drive people to an increasingly dangerous mass transit system.
Through a spokesman, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed that he still backs the system that now tolls drivers $9 to cross below Central Park or enter Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn and New Jersey – but questioned whether now is best to implement it.
"Governor Cuomo believes congestion pricing is ultimately the right policy, which is why he fought and succeeded in passing it after more than a decade of failed attempts," longtime spokesman Rich Azzopardi told Fox News Digital on Friday.
Azzopardi said that Cuomo’s original plan, which found agreement from then-Mayor Bill de Blasio, was based on a "safe and reliable subway system" and a thriving city core. Prior Mayor Michael Bloomberg had proposed a similar plan in 2007, but it died in Albany.
"[G]iven the obvious lack of confidence the public currently has in the subway system – combined with the tenuous state of New York City post-COVID, [Cuomo] called for a data-driven study on the impact of congestion pricing to inform the timing of such a major policy change and to ensure New York was not creating additional obstacles to its comeback."
Cuomo previously wrote in a March op-ed that congestion pricing’s success hinges on confidence in the MTA and mass transit, which he noted has also statistically still not recovered from COVID levels.
He noted how congestion pricing is meant to "incentivize" subway use – but that that is hard to do when people are getting brutally attacked underground – and noted that it was his father, Gov. Mario Cuomo, who first beefed-up police presence after the "bad old days."
At the time of a prior column in the Post, Cuomo cited a conductor with 24 years of service to the MTA vowing never to go back underground after he was slashed in the neck and required 34 stitches while operating an A train in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
More recently, an Ocean County, N.J., woman was burned alive in Coney Island, and there have been several near-fatal cases of people being randomly shoved in front of trains, occurring from Morningside Heights to TriBeCa, since Christmas.
"It is undeniable that New York is in a dramatically different place today than it was in 2019, and without a study forecasting its consequences based on facts, not politics, it could do more harm than good to New York City's recovery," Cuomo’s spokesman said Friday.
But Cuomo’s onetime deputy, Gov. Kathy Hochul, appeared full-steam-ahead in enacting the policy, which is intended to drive commuters and residents to consider mass transit to head to work or play in Midtown.
In a recent statement lauding her current plan, Hochul’s office said the reduction of the congestion toll from its original $15 will save drivers $1,500 per year, and that commuters will see "new and improved subway services."
"By getting congestion pricing underway and fully supporting the MTA capital plan, we’ll unclog our streets, reduce pollution and deliver better public transit for millions of New Yorkers," Hochul said.
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber, who oversees the state-run metro subway, bus and rail network, said that Hochul is "stepping up" for people who want cleaner air, safer streets and less gridlock.
He also noted that upgrades have already taken place on the 7 subway from Times Square to Flushing, Queens, and the L train from Union Square to Canarsie.
However, Cuomo’s camp maintains that it was he who envisioned and oversaw the upgrades to New York’s transit network without the added tolls in effect – and ripped Hochul and Lieber for claiming that he had gotten cold feet.
When the New York Post asked Hochul for comment on Cuomo suggesting she "hit the brakes" on congestion pricing, the governor directed comment to a Lieber spokesman, who blasted Cuomo for "flip-flopping."
"What would really harm New York’s continuing recovery is starving subways of a desperately needed source of funding after decades of underinvestment," the MTA’s Aaron Donovan said.
"The $15 fee was passed by the MTA under Hochul’s watch, but please gaslight away," Azzopardi told Fox News Digital. "New Yorkers aren’t stupid."
Cuomo previously told WNYW that people have the option to work from home, which they didn’t have when he first pushed the plan in 2019 – and that if he were a commuter, he would likely balk at the idea of added costs at a time of "high crime and homelessness."
Cuomo’s camp also said that Hochul likes to take credit for the achievements of his three-term administration that presaged the new tolls.
"The difference here is that Governor Cuomo built the [new Amtrak/MetroNorth] Moynihan Train Hall and the Second Avenue Subway [extension to East Harlem], as well as fixed the L train and did the hard work to get [Grand Central’s] East Side Access and the LIRR Third-Track done. All Hochul wanted to do was cut the ribbons," Azzopardi said.
Cuomo’s calls for a pause were joined by several New York Republicans, yet the former governor and potential 2025 mayoral candidate remains supportive of congestion pricing, while the GOP wants it nixed entirely.
Commuters from New Jersey must still pay Port Authority tolls to cross the Hudson River, and outer-borough commuters the same via the East River – albeit with a slight credit toward their "congestion" fee.
Drivers who remain on the FDR Drive or Joe DiMaggio West Side Highway will not be charged unless they turn onto surface streets.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday submitted a notice that he would be filing a defamation lawsuit against a former aide, who previously filed a federal lawsuit against him for sexual harassment, claiming that she defamed him through the process.
"The nature of this action is to recover compensatory and punitive damages for the serious injuries and losses that Governor Cuomo has suffered and will continue to suffer as a result of the December 9, 2024 false statement by Bennett and her agents that Governor Cuomo ‘sexually harassed’ Bennett," a legal notice filed by Cuomo against Charlotte Bennett on Thursday reads.
"Bennett’s agents tweeted this statement on December 9, 2024 with the headline: "Debra Katz and Charlotte Bennett issued statements on news that Bennett voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in the SDNY against Andrew Cuomo, who sexually harassed her." Bennett reposted her agents’ tweet, which has garnered more than 90,000 views. The December 9 Defamatory Statement – which was intended to be and was widely disseminated and which was made in the wake of Bennett and her agents’ numerous prior public accusations against Governor Cuomo – was false and defamatory, and Bennett made it knowing full well that it was false and intending to cause harm to Governor Cuomo."
Bennett was one of several women to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment, which ultimately contributed to his resignation in 2021.
"I would never want to be unhelpful in any way, and I think given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing, and therefore, that’s what I’ll do," Cuomo said at the time while denying the allegations against him and arguing that state investigators from the office of Attorney General Letitia James were biased against him.
"I have slipped and called people ‘honey, ’sweetheart' and ‘darling.’ I mean it to be endearing, but women found it dated and offensive," Cuomo said at the time. "I take full responsibility for my actions. I have been too familiar with people. My sense of humor can be insensitive and off-putting."
"In my mind, I've never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn't realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn," he added. "There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn't fully appreciate. And I should have, no excuses."
Bennett dropped her lawsuit against Cuomo, which she filed in 2022, this December on the eve of her deposition in the case.
"Since Ms. Bennett filed suit in federal court in September 2022, former Governor Cuomo has used every opportunity to harass our client with an astonishing number of invasive discovery requests and outrageous statements in pleadings to embarrass and humiliate her," Bennett’s lawyer, Debra Katz, said in a statement as the lawsuit was dropped on Dec. 9. "These include requests for medical records for unrelated specialists, including gynecologists, optometrists, and others, as well as medical records dating back more than ten years ago from when she was a minor."
"This fishing expedition was designed to dig up material to smear our client and distract from the fact that Mr. Cuomo did, as the New York Attorney General’s Office concluded after a lengthy investigation, sexually harass Ms. Bennett and at least 11 other women. It is also important not to lose sight of the fact that before engaging in his multi-year, multi-million dollar legal war against Ms. Bennett – funded by N.Y. State taxpayers – Mr. Cuomo apologized for his behavior. At a March 2021 press conference, he apologized for ‘making anyone feel uncomfortable’ and for ‘whatever pain I caused anyone,’ and said, ‘I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that.’ His apologies were empty."
Richard Azzopardi, a rep for Cuomo, praised Bennett's decision to drop the case at the time, saying that her claims "falsely smeared" the former governor "for years."
"Ms. Bennett's decision to drop her baseless lawsuit should be viewed as a complete capitulation and a desperate attempt to avoid being confronted with the mountains of exculpatory discovery – including contemporaneous texts and videos that the AG’s office never obtained – that completely refute her claims against Governor Cuomo," he said, in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"After falsely smearing Governor Cuomo for years, Ms. Bennett suddenly withdrew her federal lawsuit on the eve of her deposition to avoid having to admit under oath that her allegations were false, and her claims had no merit," he said. "If New York State does give in to her public pressure campaign and settles, it will not be on the merits and should require the public release of all the evidence so that New Yorkers finally know the truth: Governor Cuomo never sexually harassed anyone."
Katz pushed back against Cuomo's notice of claim in a statement to the Times Union, saying it has "no merit."
"There is a long history of using defamation lawsuits to silence and punish accusers of sexual harassment," Katz said. "It is shameful that Mr. Cuomo has apparently now chosen to go down that path."
Fox News Digital reached out to Katz for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Cuomo's notice alleges that Bennett "cynically used" conversations with Cuomo to "advance" her career and that her "false allegations materially contributed to a cascade of harm to Governor Cuomo."
Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legal defense team this week, as the Jewish leader and his former defense chief Yoav Gallant face arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over their ongoing response to Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.
Cuomo, a three-term Democrat who resigned in 2021 amid harassment allegations he has personally denied, also railed against antisemitism at a recent dinner with leaders of New York’s Jewish community.
Cuomo condemned what he characterized as whitewashing Hamas kidnappings and murders in Israel, telling the National Committee for Furtherance of Jewish Education he is proud to join Netanyahu’s defense.
He condemned the "denial" that too many people and "institutions" have about the scourge of antisemitism.
Cuomo said one Jewish leader, Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who had been reported as "missing" in the United Arab Emirates was not so, and instead was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. Cuomo suggested such incorrect characterizations should be considered antisemitic.
"This is the moment that is going to be in the history books. This is a pivotal moment and this is the moment when true friends stand shoulder to shoulder and fight for the state of Israel," Cuomo said.
"I am proud to be on the legal defense team of the prime minister against the arrest warrant at the ICC – and I’m proud to stand against antisemitism."
The ICC charged Netanyahu and Gallant with crimes against humanity and war crimes, setting off a global firestorm as signatories to the court’s jurisdiction found themselves at odds with non-party allies like the U.S.
In recognizing the ICC, member nations have a sworn duty to uphold its edicts. Netanyahu’s warrant therefore presented the swath of Western nations – including the entire European Union – with a predicament that placed them counter to the U.S. and Israel.
Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts told Britain's GB News there would be "hell to pay for any international leader buying into this bulls---." That nation's leader, left-wing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, faces pressure from some members of his Labour Party who have cited an "obligation" to arrest Netanyahu, according to the outlet.
The Macron administration in France signaled Netanyahu will be treated as immune to the ICC because – while the French are signatories – Israel is not.
Separately, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot was asked if France would arrest Netanyahu, and responded that Paris is "very committed to international justice and will apply international law," according to the Jerusalem Post.
The warrants caused bipartisan outrage on Capitol Hill as Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Reps. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., and Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., found rare agreement.
Graham told "Hannity" that he and Cotton seek to pass a law sanctioning any country aiding the ICC in arresting Netanyahu, while the other listed lawmakers all condemned the warrant.
Cuomo is also rumored to be considering a 2025 mayoral run in New York City – which is home to the largest Jewish community in the U.S.
During his remarks, he cited the 1.6 million Jews in the Big Apple and said Hamas is demonstrating in the streets with masks while Jewish people are afraid to wear yarmulkes or Stars of David in public.
"That cannot happen in the state of New York," he said, adding a relevant law he signed as governor should be properly enforced.
In 2019, Cuomo approved antisemitic-hate-crimes legislation sponsored by state Sen. Todd Kaminsky, D-Long Beach, and launched a "No Hate In Our State" campaign soon after.
A Cuomo spokesman directed Fox News Digital to video of the governor's speech and said in a statement the Democrat is proud to be part of a legal "dream team" for Netanyahu.
"As governor, Cuomo made fighting antisemitism and supporting Israel a top priority, passing landmark hate crime legislation, prioritizing security upgrades to religious institutions, creating a new hate crimes unit in the State Police and leading a state delegation to Israel when it was under attack," he said.
The ideological potpourri of the U.S., Russia, Cuba, Turkey, Vatican City and Malaysia are some of the more major nations who do not recognize the ICC.
Major U.S. allies Canada, Mexico, Australia and the United Kingdom recognize the Holland-based bench.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Netanyahu administration for comment.
