New York Governor Cuomo resigns after sexual harassment findings

By Jonathan Allen

NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned connected Tuesday pursuing an enquiry that recovered helium sexually harassed 11 women, mounting ineligible unit and demands for his departure by President Joe Biden and others, a startling downfall for a antheral erstwhile seen arsenic a imaginable U.S. statesmanlike contender.

Cuomo, a Democrat who had served since 2011 arsenic politician of the 4th most-populous U.S. state, made the announcement aft New York Attorney General Letitia James connected Aug. 3 released the results https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-york-ag-says-probe-found-gov-cuomo-sexually-harrassed-multiple-women-broke-2021-08-03 of a five-month autarkic probe that concluded helium had engaged successful behaviour that violated U.S. and authorities laws.

The investigation, elaborate successful a 168-page study recovered that Cuomo groped, kissed oregon made suggestive comments to women including existent and erstwhile authorities workers – 1 a authorities trooper – and retaliated against astatine slightest 1 pistillate who accused him of intersexual misconduct. Cuomo denied wrongdoing.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat from occidental New York, volition instrumentality implicit arsenic politician of the authorities of much than 19 cardinal radical until the extremity of Cuomo‘s word successful December 2022 arsenic outlined successful the state’s constitution, becoming the archetypal pistillate to clasp the post.

Cuomo‘s resignation marks the 2nd clip successful 13 years that a New York politician has stepped down successful scandal, aft Eliot Spitzer discontinue successful 2008 implicit his patronage of prostitutes. Cuomo also became the latest almighty antheral taken down successful caller years pursuing the emergence of the #MeToo societal question against intersexual maltreatment and harassment that has shaken politics, Hollywood, the concern satellite and the workplace.

His resignation spared Cuomo from imaginable removal from bureau done impeachment proceedings successful the authorities legislature. An ongoing impeachment probe had lone promised to intensify.

Cuomo, 63, was elected to 3 presumption arsenic governor, arsenic was his precocious father, Mario Cuomo. He antecedently served arsenic U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development caput from 1997 to 2001 nether erstwhile President Bill Clinton.

Like his father, Andrew Cuomo never ran for president contempt speculation astir his imaginable nationalist ambitions. He gained nationalist prominence past twelvemonth aboriginal successful the COVID-19 pandemic aft delivering regular quality conferences arsenic his authorities became the U.S. epicenter of the nationalist wellness crisis.

The civilian probe recovered that the actions of Cuomo and his elder advisers violated aggregate authorities and national laws, but James did not prosecute transgression charges. Local prosecutors are escaped to bash so, meaning Cuomo still could look ineligible jeopardy.

Local prosecutors successful Manhattan, Nassau County, Albany County and Westchester County said aft the report’s merchandise that they are looking into the substance and person requested grounds from the autarkic inquiry. New York City’s politician said Cuomo should look transgression charges.

Cuomo had for months denied mounting allegations of intersexual harassment – and renewed those denials aft the investigative study was issued. But what was near of his governmental enactment crumbled aft the findings were made public. Hours later, Biden – a person of the politician for years – told reporters astatine the White House https://www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-calls-cuomo-findings-abhorrent-says-biden-will-address-later-2021-08-03: “I deliberation helium should resign.”

Other salient Democrats including the state’s 2 U.S. senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi besides lined up successful calling connected the party’s one-time prima to resign.

Investigators https://www.reuters.com/article/us-new-york-cuomo-lawyers/former-top-us-prosecutor-in-new-york-took-lead-on-cuomo-probe-idUSKBN2F42JA concluded that Cuomo and his aides created a “toxic” and “hostile” workplace successful an bureau gripped by bullying, fearfulness and intimidation. The complaints astir intersexual harassment emerged aft broader disapproval by Democratic politicians successful New York that Cuomo governed done intimidation.

Cuomo last twelvemonth appeared to beryllium a person successful ascent https://www.reuters.com/world/us/comforter-in-chief-persona-non-grata-cuomos-stunning-fall-2021-08-03, presenting himself arsenic an authoritative fig successful televised quality conferences connected the pandemic. His representation was burnished by tv interviews with his younger brother, CNN big Chris Cuomo.

Shortly aft James, a chap Democrat, elaborate the findings, Cuomo, the divorced begetter of 3 big daughters, issued a video connection https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/video-audio-rush-transcript-governor-cuomo-responds-independent-reviewer-report successful which helium said, “I ne'er touched anyone inappropriately oregon made inappropriate intersexual advances.”

“That is conscionable not who I am,” Cuomo said successful the video, arsenic helium argued that what women described arsenic intersexual advances were inoffensive gestures and comments inspired by a earthy carnal warmth arising from the civilization successful which helium was raised. In the video, helium indicated helium had nary plans to resign, mentioning specifically the combat against the pandemic.

A Marist Poll http://maristpoll.marist.edu/marist-poll-results-analysis-governor-andrew-cuomo/#sthash.Zx6wYGys.8sJphJMv.dpbs released a time aft the study was issued showed that 59% of New Yorkers wanted Cuomo to resign, compared to 32% who said helium should service retired his word and 9% who were unsure. Among Democrats, however, lone 52% favored resignation.

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen and Joseph Ax; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Howard Goller)