Andrew Cuomo, The Governor of New York has resigned after an inquiry found he sexually harassed multiple women, prompting efforts to remove him.
“The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing,” he said on Tuesday.
Lieutenant Kathy Hochul has been designated as his successor and is expected to take office in 14 days.
The Democrat has faced pressure from his own party since last week’s damaging report which led to President Biden and many other Democrats to call on him to resign.
In an investigation from the New York Attorney General’s office, it was found that Governor Cuomo, 63, sexually harassed 11 women. He is however, denying these allegations and maintains his innocence.
It began in 2020 after several women publicly accused the governor of sexual misconduct.
The report caused many prominent Democrats to turn against Mr. Cuomo, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer.
New York’s two US Senators also denounced him for his actions!
It has been reported that his fellow New York Democrats, who control the statehouse, had started on plans to impeach him. In addition, Mr. Cuomo is facing criminal inquiries in several counties as well.
Mr. Cuomo said in a news conference “My instinct is to fight through this controversy because I truly believe it is politically motivated, I believe it is unfair and it is untruthful and I believe it demonises behaviour that is unsustainable for society”.
He said he was resigning because the “current trajectory” of the scandal would generate months of controversy, distractions and “cost taxpayers millions of dollars”.
Mr. Cuomo also revealed Tuesday that the “allegations have harmed his relationship with his daughters”.
“I have sat on the couch with them, hearing the ugly accusations for weeks. I have seen the look in their eyes, and the expression on their faces. It hurt,” he said.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a long-time critic of Governor Cuomo made his stance clear following an announcement, “it was past time” for him to resign” he said.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed that President Biden has not spoken to his old friend since the report was published.
She praised the “courageous women who came forward” and noted how Mr. Biden had called for Cuomo’s resignation last week.
His departure marks the second time in 13 years that a New York governor has resigned. The first was Eliot Spitzer who stepped down in 2008 after being implicated for involvement with a prostitution ring.
