CNN "State of the Union with Jake Tapper" - Transcript: Interview with Kathy Hochul

Interview

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TAPPER: Welcome back to STATE OF THE UNION. I'm Jake Tapper.

The state of New York is soon to be under historic new leadership, after longtime Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace this week in the face of 11 claims of sexual harassment by former aides, a state trooper and others, some of which the governor denies. Others he says are just misunderstandings.

Cuomo's replacement, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, will be the first woman ever to lead New York state, a delicious bit of irony to emerge from this whole sorry and ugly mess. And one of Hochul's first goals is to clean up the -- quote -- "toxic workplace" in Albany.

Joining us now, the soon-to-be-Governor of New York Kathy Hochul. Madam soon-to-be-governor, thanks for joining us.

I want to talk to you about New York politics in general. For those who don't know your story and your history, you won a House seat after a Republican congressman resigned and during a sex scandal. You lost that House seat to a congressman who was later indicted.

You will now be governor after Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat, resigned over a prostitution scandal. Democrat David Paterson pulled out of his race after he was accused of intervening in an aide's domestic abuse case. And now, of course, Democrat Andrew Cuomo has resigned.

So, first question, what the hell's going on in New York? And can you promise New Yorkers that you will end this legacy of sleaze?

HOCHUL: It won't be difficult for me.

Everyone who's known my career, over 27 years of elective office, know that I have very high ethical standards. And I will go in there and literally say it's a whole new day, zero tolerance. I'm going to be very firm in my expectations in how my administration conducts themselves throughout the entire work force.

But, also, I want people to know, particularly young women, like I was once a young intern working in Buffalo in Democratic politics, I want them to know that this is a place they're welcome, they will feel safe, they will know that their ideas are valued.

So I don't think it's going to take a lot for that tone to change on day one. And I'm excited about that.

TAPPER: Well, while you bring that up, I want to ask you that I heard from a Democratic official, a young woman, which is about you, and why did you stay silent for so long, she wanted me to ask you, about Governor Cuomo's alleged abuses and scandals?

What do you say to women who might be thinking that?

HOCHUL: Well, the people who know me know that I have not been close to the governor. I have not been in the rooms where any of these actions are -- occurred.

And my role as lieutenant governor for seven years, has really been to spend as little time in Albany as possible, except when I'm presiding over the Senate. I have reached every corner of the state. I have met thousands and thousands of people. I have championed policies, from paid family leave, to increase in the minimum wage, to child care, to economic development.

I'm in charge of economic development for the state. So, I'm not in the room. So, if you don't know something, you can't talk about it. But what we have seen in this report -- and I called for this investigation -- I have called the findings absolutely repulsive and unlawful.

So, my position is unwavering in my tolerance for the future work force, which is what I'm responsible for, that this will not occur.

TAPPER: One last question on Cuomo.

He did an interview with "New York Magazine" on Friday. And here's part of what he said -- quote -- "I did the right thing for the state. I'm not going to drag the state through the mud, through a three- month, four-month impeachment, and then win, and have made the state legislature and the state government looked like a ship of fools."

Cuomo goes on to say -- quote -- "I'm not disappearing. I have a voice. I have a perspective. That's not going to change."

He also has millions of dollars in the bank for his campaign reelection. He seems to be painting himself as righteous, as a victim, preparing to remain in public life, which seems to be possible in part because state lawmakers in Albany have halted the impeachment proceedings.

What do you make of those comments? And are you OK with Andrew Cuomo sticking around in New York politics?

HOCHUL: The governor will do what he chooses to do.

I will be laser-focused on dealing with COVID, getting our economy back, getting kids back in schools, and dealing with a whole host of other challenges that I'm prepared for. I'm ready for this. I'm ready to lead.

And what happens off to the side, I won't have control over, but it will not distract me.

TAPPER: So, let's turn to the pandemic.

Sixty-seven percent of eligible New Yorkers are fully vaccinated. That's higher than the national average, but it still leaves millions of New Yorkers who have not gotten the shots. New York City is requiring proof of at least one shot for many indoor activities, such as restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters.

Do you think that's a good idea? Are you open to mandating that statewide in New York?

HOCHUL: I'm open to all options.

And I have been assembling a team of experts. I already had a conversation with the health minister. I will be contacting the CDC in a matter of days. I plan to talk to Dr. Fauci as well. I want to bring the best and the brightest to deal with this.

Now, here we are; 74 percent of people have at least had one dose, people over 18. But there's a lot of anxiety out there. I'm going to be focused on a targeted approach within the communities where there is the greatest hesitancy. Some areas are very high. Others are low.

[09:40:02] And I have a trusted voice in the state that I have cultivated over many years of seeing my sincerity and my genuine passion for the state. We're going to get this right.

I will be looking at possibility of mandates, but not saying they're in or out until I know all the facts. Also, masks for kids in schools, this is something that I believe has to occur to make sure that our teachers are safe, the administrators are safe, and above all, each child that a parent sends off to school and trusts that that school is going to take care of their most precious child in their entire lives -- I'm a mom. I know how this feels.

I will get this right. I want to just assure people that circumstances continue to change. And I don't want to have a hard-and-fast rule from day one that's going to be in effect necessarily even a month later, depending on what this variant does.

The number one thing we need to do is get more people vaccinated. I know that challenge. What I want to do, I want to roll up my sleeves and sit down with the mayor of New York, the current and the incoming mayors, and say, let's solve this together. You have smart people. I have smart people. How about doing it together and not in competition?

TAPPER: If you're in favor of masks mandated in schools, what about vaccines mandated for teachers, staff and anyone who's eligible?

California is requiring that teachers and other school employees get vaccinated. That's really the best way to stop the spread of the virus. Masks are fine, but the vaccine is really what works. Would you potentially support that?

HOCHUL: I don't have the executive power to do that. The legislature gave it to the governor for the last two years dealing with the first wave of COVID. But it is not some power that I have right now.

But I'm willing to speak to our legislative leaders and to take whatever action I need to, to protect people.

TAPPER: "The Buffalo News" is reporting that your husband is going to stay in his job as a top executive for Delaware North. That's a major food service, lodging and gambling company.

Obviously, there's a lot of overlap with state regulators and state dollars on everything from liquor and gambling boards to corporate sponsorships. You have talked about recusing yourself. And your husband has talked about recusing himself. Some ethics experts say, though, that that's not good enough, that your husband needs to take a leave of absence while you're governor.

Given the horrific legacy of sleaze in New York, might that be the best way to start reinstilling confidence in government, having your husband take a leave of absence?

HOCHUL: Well, the word sleaze has never been associated with either one of the Hochuls. My husband was a federal prosecutor for 30 years. So, even when I was in Congress, we're well-accustomed to keeping our

work very separate. He served as Barack Obama's U.S. attorney for eight years. So, no one can touch the integrity with which we have brought to our positions in the past and currently.

But, however, I understand concerns, and I have reached out to outside ethics experts to come up with a ironclad policy, so no one will ever question that there's any involvement with my husband in anything pertaining to the state of New York.

TAPPER: New York City mayoral nominee Eric Adams has made some broad critiques of the national Democratic Party. He told me on this show last month that national Democratic priorities on guns, for example, had been misplaced.

He told me Democratic voters don't just want -- quote -- "an ideological approach," but a pragmatic approach."

Do you agree? Do you see people like Eric Adams as the future of the Democratic Party?

HOCHUL: I am so excited to work with Eric Adams.

I have had a chance to work with him while he's been Brooklyn Borough president. He was very supportive of me in my past two statewide elections. And I appreciate that.

I will not be pigeonholed into a label. I will look at each issue as it arises. I have already reached out to all quadrants of our party, the very left, the very right. It doesn't matter to me, because, Jake, I have got a job to do. And I will not be sidetracked by labels or how people want to characterize my administration, other than I will fight like hell every day for New Yorkers.

So, our party is broad. It's inclusive. I have represented -- the most conservative district in the state of New York is in a Republican area that I won because I said I would support protecting Medicare. I stood with the Obama administration to my own detriment.

So I'm a fighter, but I also know the issues in New York City and how there's a different philosophy. I'm the one person who can bring it together. So, people should not worry about the future of the Democratic Party in the state of New York under my watch.

TAPPER: Governor Hochul, we certainly wish you the best of luck in the Herculean task ahead of you.

Good -- best of luck, and our thoughts and prayers with you and the good citizens of New York.

HOCHUL: Thank you very much, Jake. I appreciate that.

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