Accused of sexual harassment, dropped by his allies, and threatened with impeachment: the fall of the New York governor. The politician has been dropped by all his Democratic allies, including Joe Biden. By succeeding him, Kathy Hochul becomes the first woman to lead the state.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has resigned after an inquiry found that he sexually harassed multiple women, prompting efforts to remove him.
“The best way I can help now is if I step aside,” he said, while continuing to deny the claims. The resignation will take effect in 14 days.
Lt Governor Kathy Hochul will become the first woman to lead New York state.
Mr Cuomo had been facing pressure to resign from fellow Democrats, including President Joe Biden., He was the subject of several criminal investigations and his party was organizing his impeachment in the state legislature in Albany, the state capital; and he had lost the battle of public opinion, with unfavorable polls – according to one survey, 70 per cent of registered voters, including 57 per cent of Democrats, wanted him to resign.
Just a year ago he was basking in adulation as millions of Americans tuned in daily to his no-nonsense televised briefings on the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Cuomo is the third New York governor in a row to leave office under a cloud of scandal.
Andrew Cuomo, 63, dreamed of being elected in 2022 for a fourth term as governor of New York State. To do better than the three mandates accomplished by his father Mario (1983-1994). He won’t have the chance. Accused in a judicial report of sexual harassment towards eleven women, the Democrat announced his resignation, effective within fourteen days, in a video address, Tuesday, August 10. “Wasting energy on distractions is the last thing state government should be doing,” Cuomo said. Given the circumstances, the best way for me to help now is to step aside and let the government get back to governing.”
