Democratic New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, on Tuesday resigned from office after a bombshell report released by State Attorney General Letitia James, a fellow Democrat, found he sexually harassed 11 women, including some who worked in his office, and violated state and federal laws.
Cuomo had faced an inundation of calls for his departure and an impeachment hearing in the state Assembly that appeared all but guaranteed to spark a trial in the state Senate. Should he have survived potential impeachment proceedings, he also faced daunting reelection prospects in 2022.
His resignation, which will be effective in 14 days, also follows widespread questions about his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in the state’s nursing homes.
The independent investigation launched by James’s office was started in March after several women publicly accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct. Investigators found Cuomo engaged in inappropriate conduct with current and former staffers and at least one state trooper who was assigned to his protective detail.
The report was finalized after attorneys interviewed 179 individuals and reviewed 74,000 pieces of evidence.
“These interviews and pieces of evidence reveal a deeply disturbing, yet clear picture: Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed current and former state employees in violation of both federal and state laws. The independent investigation found that Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, many of whom were young women, by engaging in unwanted groping, kisses, hugging and by making inappropriate comments,” James said Tuesday.
The blockbuster findings reignited calls from his resignation from both Democrats and Republicans who said his actions were beyond the pale.
“This report highlights unacceptable behavior by Governor Cuomo and his administration. As I said when these disturbing allegations first came to light, the Governor must resign for the good of the state,” state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) said in a statement shortly after the report’s release. “Now that the investigation is complete and the allegations have been substantiated, it should be clear to everyone that he can no longer serve as Governor.”
Prior to Cuomo’s resignation, the number of Democrats who had called for his departure had snowballed to most Democrats in the state legislature, the head of the state party to the pinnacles of Washington.
The sexual harassment scandal compounded the criticism Cuomo faced after it was revealed his office intentionally undercounted the number of coronavirus-related deaths in nursing homes by several thousand and sought to hide the true tally, in part over fears that a higher count would be wielded as a political cudgel by then-President Trump.
Cuomo had apologized for both scandals but denied any wrongdoing toward any woman he’s interacted with, maintaining his conduct should not be considered sexual harassment.
Even as the calls for his resignation piled up, he remained defiant and insisted he would not leave office.
“The facts are much different than what has been portrayed,” he said after James released the damning report.
Cuomo’s resignation marks an ignominious end to a political career that spanned decades. He served as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Clinton administration before becoming the New York attorney general and later governor. His popularity soared during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic with his daily, televised press conferences only to see his approval rating crater in light of the sexual harassment and nursing home scandals.
His resignation will elevate Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to the governorship, making her the first female executive of the Empire State.
