New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, said he is green lighting an impeachment investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo, delivering the most direct threat to the embattled executive's hold on the office.

Heastie's statement came during a day where calls for Cuomo to resign grew louder and more numerous among state lawmakers as the governor tries to weather a sexual harassment scandal that has plagued his administration this month.

The chamber's judiciary committee will conduct the impeachment investigation and will have the ability to subpoena documents, interview witnesses and assess evidence, he said. The inquiry will be led by Assemblymember Charles Lavine, D-Nassau, who is chair of the committee.

"I have the utmost faith that Assemblymember Lavine and the members of the committee will conduct an expeditious, full and thorough investigation," Heastie said.

The impeachment investigation will not impede a separate investigation from the state attorney general's office into the sexual harassment allegations, he said.

The committee's inquiry will focus not only on allegations that Cuomo engaged in sexual harassment of women working in the administration, but could also look into other maters, which could include allegations that the administration has issued misleading reports on COVID-19 deaths of nursing home residents.

Nearly 60 lawmakers from both legislative chambers on Thursday called for Cuomo to step down.

"In light of the Governor's admission of inappropriate behavior and the findings of altered data on nursing home COVID-19 deaths he has lost the confidence of the public and the state legislature, rendering him ineffective in this time of most urgent need," the lawmakers said in a statement.