As the list of women accusing Gov. Andrew Cuomo of inappropriate behavior grows, so does the list of lawmakers calling on the governor to resign.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Sunday became the first senior Democrat in the state to say the three-term governor should resign. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie stopped short of demanding that Cuomo quit, but said in a statement that “it is time for the Governor to seriously consider whether he can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York.”

State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, on Monday joined the growing chorus of those calling on Cuomo to step down.

“”While these individual allegations against the governor certainly deserve due process, they are a symptom of a greater issue within the Cuomo administration,” Borrello said. “There are countless stories of a toxic environment within his organization. His Machiavellian style of leadership has degraded into dangerously unaccountable and ineffective governing. So it is time now for the governor to do what is in the best interest of New Yorkers and tender his resignation.”

On Saturday, two more women who worked for Cuomo publicly accused him of inappropriate behavior, on the heels of other allegations in recent weeks. That news prompted Stewart-Cousins’ call for resignation. The Senate Majority Leader had said last week any additional harassment allegations would be enough for her to call for Cuomo to step down.

“Every day there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government,” Stewart-Cousins said in a statement. “New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the societal, health and economic impacts of it. We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state Governor Cuomo must resign.”

Her public push for his resignation came shortly after a Sunday press conference where Cuomo said it would be “anti-democratic” for him to step down.

“There is no way I resign,” Cuomo told reporters. “They don’t override the people’s will, they don’t get to override elections. I was elected by the people of New York state. I wasn’t elected by politicians.”

In a brief phone conversation Sunday prior to the press conference, Cuomo told Stewart-Cousins he wouldn’t quit and they would have to impeach him if they wanted him out of office, according to a person who was briefed by someone on the call. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the call was intended to be private.

The calls from Stewart-Cousins and a growing list of Democrats are a sign, Borrello said, that the situation is serious. Sen. Michael Gianaris, D-Astoria and deputy majority leader, has also called for resignation, as have Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake. Assemblyman Ron Kim, D-Flushing, on Friday called for Cuomo to be impeached, one of more than a dozen legislators.

“While Republicans have been leading the charge for his resignation, the comments by Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie on Sunday underscore the fact that this isn’t about partisanship,” Borrello said. “Public trust in the governor’s ability to lead our state has evaporated. That trust has been irreparably broken by the nursing home data cover-up, the bullying of legislators and mounting allegations of sexual harassment.”

On Monday, state Attorney General Letitia James announced the appointment of Joon H. Kim, former Acting U.S Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and employment discrimination attorney Anne L. Clark as the attorneys who will lead an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo.

Kim and Clark will be supported in the investigation by Jennifer Kennedy Park, Abena Mainoo, and Yannick Grant.

“We are committed to an independent and thorough investigation of the facts,” said Attorney General James. “Joon H. Kim and Anne L. Clark are independent, legal experts who have decades of experience conducting investigations and fighting to uphold the rule of law. There is no question that they both have the knowledge and background necessary to lead this investigation and provide New Yorkers with the answers they deserve.”

The team is charged with conducting a thorough and independent investigation of, and the circumstances surrounding, allegations of sexual harassment against Governor Cuomo, including his administration’s handling of such matters. This work will be comprised of — but not limited to — issuing subpoenas and related compliance; examination of relevant documents and records; interviews, including formal depositions; and analysis of data and information pertinent to the investigation. As required by the enabling statute, the team will report weekly on the investigation to the Office of the Attorney General throughout the duration of the investigation. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the team will produce a written report which will include its findings. The report will be made available to the general public.