Cuomo allegations: New York governor resigns, says he 'never intentionally disrespected a woman'
New York governor Andrew Cuomo has resigned amid a barrage of sexual harassment allegations as he claimed he "never did - and I never would - intentionally disrespect a woman."
The resignation represents a fall from grace a year after he was widely hailed nationally for his detailed daily briefings and leadership during the early stages of Covid-19 pandemic in the United States which saw New York City become the first epicentre of the disease in America.
In a televised address, the 63-year-old Democrat emphatically denied intentionally showing any disrespect toward women but said that fighting back against what he called the “politically motivated” attack on him would subject the state to months of turmoil, and “I cannot be the cause of that.”
“The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to government,” Mr Cuomo said.
Towards the end of his speech, Mr Cumomo directly addressed his three adult daughters saying "I have lived this experience with and through them, 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 and it hurt. I want my three jewels to know this.
"My greatest goal is for them to have a better future than the generations of women before them. It is still, in many ways, a man's world. It always has been.He added: "I want them to know from the bottom of my heart that I never did - and I never would - intentionally disrespect a woman or treat any woman differently than I would want them treated.
And that is the God's honest truth. Your dad made mistakes and he apologised and he learned from it, and that's what life is all about."The three-term governor’s decision, which will take effect in two weeks, was announced as momentum built in the Legislature to remove him by impeachment.
It came after New York’s attorney general released the results of an investigation that found Mr Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women.Investigators said he subjected women to unwanted kisses; groped or touched them inappropriately; made insinuating remarks about their looks and their sex lives; and created a work environment “rife with fear and intimidation.”Deputy Governor Kathy Hochul, a 62-year-old Democrat and former member of Congress, will become the state’s 57th governor and the first woman to hold the post.Mr Cuomo still faces the possibility of criminal charges, with a number of prosecutors around the state moving to investigate him.
The string of accusations that spelled the governor’s downfall began to unfold in news reports last December and went on for months.
He has called some of the allegations fabricated, forcefully denying he touched anyone inappropriately.
But he acknowledged making some aides uncomfortable with comments he said he intended as playful, and he apologised for some of his behaviour.The release of the report left the governor more isolated than ever, with some of his most loyal supporters abandoning him and President Joe Biden joining those calling on him to resign.His accusers included an aide who said Mr Cuomo groped her breast at the governor’s mansion.
Investigators also the governor’s staff retaliated against one of his accusers by leaking confidential personnel files about her.