Cuomo noted that former Gov. George Pataki reinstated the death penalty in New York, but the courts halted it 2004.
“In his final years, my father continued to advocate for eliminating the law from the books, calling it a stain on our conscience,” Cuomo said.
New York Assembly Speaker Supports Cuomo
Meanwhile, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie supports Cuomo. He said he will work with the governor to make sure that capital punishment is not implemented in the state.
In a statement, Heastie noted that in 2004, the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that the reinstatement of the death penalty was unconstitutional. Since then, the murder rate in the state has declined by 39 percent.
“Today, 31 states continue to impose the death penalty,” Heastie said. “New York is not one of them, and I will work with Gov. Cuomo to ensure the death penalty will not be imposed in our state.”
Last year, President Donald Trump called for capital punishment for a terrorist who committed a deadly truck rampage in New York.
