NEW York Governor Andrew Cuomo has resigned following sexual harassment allegations.
The political head stepped down from his title on Tuesday after months of backlash.
"New York tough means New York loving. And I love New York. And I love you. And everything I have ever done has been motivated by that love," the governor said."
"The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing," he said. "And therefore, that's what I'll do."
His resignation will take effect in 14 days, Cuomo said. He will be succeeded by Lieutenant Governor of New York Kathy Hochul.
Hochul will become the first female, and 57th total, governor of the Empire state.
Following the announcement, Hochul said that she "agrees" with Cuomo's decision, adding "it is the right thing to do and in the best interest of New Yorkers."
Speaking directly to his daughters, while holding back tears, Cuomo said: "Your dad made mistakes and he apologized and he learned from it and that's what life is all about."
Signing off his resignation speech, Cuomo thanked New Yorkers.
"Thank you for the honor of serving you, it has been the honor of my lifetime, God bless you," he said.
Cuomo's resignation comes as:
- His top aide resigned
- Another accuser reveals herself and wants him 'held accountable'
- Cuomo's lawyer insists that he's the victim
- People call for CNN anchor Chris Cuomo to be fired
Cuomo has faced calls to step down after state Attorney General Letitia James released a report alleging he sexually harassed several women and violated both state and federal laws.
The report alleged Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women, including nine current and former state workers.
A number of Democratic lawmakers and even President Joe Biden have called for Gov Cuomo to resign.
The governor has vehemently denied the allegations. During his resignation, Cuomo hammered home that he "did not intentionally mean to disrespect a woman."
This week, one of Cuomo's accusers revealed herself on CBS This Morning and claimed the governor reached under her blouse and molested her while they were at the Executive Mansion in Albany last month.
'HE BROKE THE LAW'
Former aide Brittany Commisso, 32, said of the incident, "The governor needs to be held accountable. What he did to me was a crime. He broke the law."
Commisso is referred to as “Executive Assistant #1” in the 168-page report.
"I mean it was – he was like cupping my breast. He cupped my breast," Commisso told investigators.
She added: "I in no way, shape or form invited that nor did I ask for it. I didn’t want it. I feel like I was being taken advantage of."
The alleged inappropriate touching came after a series of "offensive interactions," according to the report.
Following the report, Biden determined that Cuomo needed to resign.
"Let's take one thing at a time," said Biden, without commenting on whether or not Cuomo should face impeachment or criminal charges.
Psaki explained the next day that Biden wasn't going to questions the findings of AG James’ report and wants Cuomo out of office.
"I think the President was pretty clear publicly," Psaki said, according to the Daily Wire. "He asked him to resign yesterday."
However, senior White House officials told NBC News that Cuomo did not provide any advance notice about his plan to step down.
They added that the president had not talked to the governor since the report came out.
Back in March, Biden had vowed to support the results of the AG’s investigation into claims Cuomo committed sexual harassment.
In March, a current Cuomo female aide who has not been publicly named accused Cuomo of reaching under her blouse and groping one of her breasts while they were alone on the second floor of the Executive Mansion in Albany towards the end of last year.
The subordinate had reportedly been summoned to his private quarters under the false pretense of helping him with a technical issue.
The AG report determined that Cuomo’s behavior in each of the incidents wasn't isolated.
"No one welcomed [they advances] and all found it disturbing, humiliating, and inappropriate," investigator Joon H. Kim, a former top federal prosecutor, said of the alleged victims.
"These brave women stepped forward to speak truth to power and, in doing so, they expressed faith in the belief that although the governor may be powerful, the truth is even more so."
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