Biden says Cuomo should resign if sexual misconduct allegations are true

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should resign if the allegations of sexual misconduct against him are confirmed by an investigation.

New York state Attorney General Letitia James last week named a team of outside lawyers to lead a probe into accusations that Cuomo harassed women through unwanted, sexually suggestive comments or inappropriate physical contact, including unsolicited kissing. nL1N2LA1SN

Asked in an interview with ABC News whether Cuomo should step down if the investigation finds the allegations are true, Biden said: "Yes. I think he'll probably end up being prosecuted, too."

Cuomo, a 63-year-old divorced father of three daughters in their 20s, has denied any misconduct and vowed to cooperate with the inquiry by James' office.

"A woman should be presumed to be telling the truth and should not be scapegoated and become victimized by her coming forward," Biden said. "There should be an investigation to determine whether what she says is true."

New York's two U.S. senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, last week urged Cuomo, a fellow Democrat, to resign, saying he had "lost the confidence" of New Yorkers.

The state legislature has said it would open an impeachment investigation into the allegations.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Leslie Adler)

((eric.beech@thomsonreuters.com; 202-898-8322; Reuters Messaging: eric.beech.reuters.com@reuters.net))