New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation on Tuesday as he faces the possibility of impeachment over allegations of sexual harassment by 11 women and increasing pressure from members of his Democratic party to step down. This recent development marks a dramatic turnaround in the career of the 63-year-old Cuomo, who was praised just a year ago for his handling of the COVID crisis before being besieged by harassment allegations and claims that he concealed the true extent of deaths in nursing homes. Cuomo, who will leave office in two weeks, hails from a politically significant family in the state, with his father, Mario, having served as governor for three terms, while his brother Chris is a prominent face on CNN.
In a televised address broadcast live, Cuomo stated, "I believe that in light of the circumstances, the best way to help now is to step aside and let government return to its business.” He clarified that "my resignation will take effect in 14 days." Cuomo, who will hand over his duties in the fourth most populous state in the U.S. to Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, denied the sexual harassment allegations detailed in a report released last week by New York Attorney General Letitia James. He stated, "The report says I sexually harassed 11 women. That was the headline people heard and saw. The reaction was anger, which it should be. But it is also (the report) false."
However, he expressed a desire to offer "a deep apology" to any woman who felt offended by his behavior. He added, "I have always been very close to people. I (admit) that I hug and kiss people spontaneously, whether women or men. I have done this my entire life." He continued, "It never crossed my mind to cross the line with anyone, but I did not realize how much I was redrawing the red lines." He noted, "There are generational and cultural shifts that I did not fully grasp when I should have. There are no excuses." He stated, "I thought hugging an employee while taking a photo was a friendly gesture, but she considered it crossing a line. I kissed a woman on the cheek during a wedding and thought I was being nice, but she felt that it was bold."
Cuomo was elected governor of New York in 2010 and easily re-elected in the strongly Democratic state in 2014 and 2018. A graduate of Fordham University and Albany Law School, he served as New York Attorney General and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the administration of former President Bill Clinton before becoming governor. His daily briefings at the onset of the COVID pandemic were widely praised and fueled speculation about a potential run for the 2020 presidential election against then-President Donald Trump. However, Cuomo ultimately decided not to run for the White House, even though he was expected to be re-elected as governor next year.
In his resignation speech, Cuomo described himself as "a born and raised New Yorker" and a "fighter," emphasizing that "my instinct tells me to confront this controversy because I believe it is politically driven." Yet he confirmed his decision to resign, stating that a battle over impeachment would "exhaust the government," cost taxpayers millions, and represent "an oppression of the people." He said, "Government must work today. Government must perform (its duties). The last thing the state government should be doing is wasting its energy on matters that distract."
He described Hochul, who will be the first woman to ever govern New York, as "smart and capable," vowing a "smooth transition." Cuomo faced intensifying pressure to resign in recent days, with President Joe Biden, two New York Democratic senators, and several congress members calling for his resignation. His announcement on Tuesday came just days after the resignation of his top aide Melissa DeRosa and the filing of a criminal complaint against him by his former executive assistant, Brittany Commisso. Commisso accused Cuomo in the complaint of inappropriately touching her twice by groping her buttocks and breasts last year while they were working at the governor's official residence.
