New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has resigned amid series of alleged sexual harassment.
Gatekeepers News reports that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced his resignation following a withering report from the state’s Attorney General which alleged that he’d sexually harassed multiple women.
Cuomo while announcing his resignation said, “And I think that given the circumstances the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to government, and therefore that is what I’ll do because I work for you, and doing the right thing, is doing the right thing for you.”
While insisting he did nothing wrong, he stated that he’ll leave office in 14 days.
The Democratic governor lost the support of the party establishment, after President Joe Biden and the House speaker Nancy Pelosi called for his resignation.
Also, both of New York’s US Senators – one of whom is Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer – two Democratic New York congressmen, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and a host of Republicans in Washington DC also mounted a resignation pressure on him.
Meanwhile, Cuomo’s own No 2, New York lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul, described his conduct as “repulsive and unlawful”. Hochul who will serve the rest of his term will become the first woman to lead the New York state.
In reaction to this, Hochul tweeted:
“I agree with Governor Cuomo’s decision to step down. It is the right thing to do and in the best interest of New Yorkers.
“As someone who has served at all levels of government and is next in the line of succession, I am prepared to lead as New York State’s 57th Governor.”
The governor earlier presented himself as a champion of the revived #MeToo movement sparked by accusations against the now-convicted film mogul Harvey Weinstein in 2017.
On Tuesday, Cuomo stated that in his mind he had “never crossed the line with anyone” but “I did not realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn”.
Cuomo who had ignored bipartisan demands that he resigns after he was first hit with sexual harassment allegations earlier this year, predicted the investigation he authorised state Attorney General Letitia James to carry out would exonerate him.
The report finally alleged that he’d harassed multiple women – nine of whom were state employees and subjected some of them to unwelcome touching and groping.
Following the development, the state Assembly had begun to organise impeachment proceedings, Local law enforcement officials have also announced they were investigating whether criminal charges were appropriate.
When the attorney general was asked if Cuomo should step down after the release of the report, she responded, “That decision is up to the governor himself. The report speaks for itself.”
The U.S President who is Cuomo’s longtime ally, was more blunt when he was asked about the report. Biden said, “I think he should resign.” exonerate him.
