As New York’s legislature begins impeachment proceedings, Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo, announced this afternoon his resignation effective in 14 days.
The odd delay in his departure comes after over a dozen allegations of sexual harassment were detailed in a state attorney general’s report last week and a bombshell interview with a former top aid with CBS News.
Cuomo, who was only recently promoted by media outlets as a possible contender for the 2024 Democrat nomination for president, faced an impeachment inquiry into his conduct and as top Democrat officials, including President Joe Biden, called on him to resign.
“The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to government,” Cuomo said in a televised speech.
Addressing the people of New York. Watch LIVE: https://t.co/0DOItVsW23
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) August 10, 2021
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a 62-year-old Democrat and former member of Congress, will become the state’s 57th governor and just the first woman to lead the liberal state.
Cuomo, who has served as governor since 2011 and photographed with nipple piercings, contended an impeachment would waste “energy” and serve as a “distraction.”
He was known as a promiscuous bachelor with his sexual escapades considered legend in New York’s tabloid news industry.
The Biden administration is currently under scrutiny after it dropped an investigation into over 14,000 nursing home deaths attributed to Cuomo policies. The governor had directed Covid-positive individuals be moved into hundreds of nursing facilities for the aged.
National media had praised Cuomo for his daily press conferences as being a counter to former President Donald Trump’s daily pandemic updates. Cuomo’s briefings won him an international Emmy Award, and he went on to write a book on leadership during the crisis.
The book and possible state funds being spent on its development are also currently being investigated by the Attorney General of New York.
