New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday he will resign after a withering report from the state’s attorney general documented multiple accusations of sexual harassment against women.

The decision heads off his almost certain impeachment and conviction in the state Legislature.

"Given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to government, and therefore that is what I'll do, because I work for you, and doing the right thing, is doing the right thing for you," Cuomo said in a televised address, at which he took no questions.

https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-heels-season-1-episode-1-hd-st...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-heels-season-1-episode-1-hd-on...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-heels-season-1-episode-1-2021-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-heels-season-1-episode-1-onlin...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/full-watch-heels-season-1-episode-1-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/heels-season-1-episode-1-online-watc...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-heels-season-1-episode-1-onlin...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/starz-s1e5-season-1-episode-5-power-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-power-book-iii-raising-kanan-s...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-power-book-iii-raising-kanan-s...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/chesapeake-shores-season-5-episode-1...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-chesapeake-shores-season-5-epi...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/full-watch-chesapeake-shores-season-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/chesapeake-shores-season-5-episode-1...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-online-chesapeake-shores-seaso...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/the-cw-dcs-stargirl-season-2-episode...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-dcs-stargirl-season-2-episode-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-online-dcs-stargirl-season-2-e...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/motherland-fort-salem-season-2-episo...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/motherland-fort-salem-season-2-episo...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/full-watch-motherland-fort-salem-sea...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-motherland-fort-salem-season-2...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-online-motherland-fort-salem-s...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-nine-perfect-strangers-season-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-nine-perfect-strangers-season-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-nine-perfect-strangers-season-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-online-nine-perfect-strangers-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/the-chair-season-1-episode-1-online-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-the-chair-season-1-episode-1-h...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-online-the-chair-season-1-epis...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/123movies-watch-the-chair-season-1-e...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/truth-be-told-season-2-episode-1-onl...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-truth-be-told-season-2-episode...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-online-truth-be-told-season-2-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/123movies-watch-truth-be-told-season...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/riverdale-season-5-episode-12-online...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-riverdale-season-5-episode-12-...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/watch-online-riverdale-season-5-epis...
https://socraticmed.net/groups/123movies-watch-riverdale-season-5-e...

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, will serve the rest of his term when the resignation becomes effective in 14 days. She will become the state's first female governor.

Though Cuomo, 63, apologized to his accusers, he made it clear he did not believe he stepped over a red line requiring removal from office. Instead, he framed his decision as one necessary to avoid protracted argument and divisiveness that would bring the state's government to a halt.

"It is a matter of life and death," he said, referring to the immediate need to combat Covid. "Government operations and wasting energy on distraction is the last thing government should be. I cannot be the cause. New York tough means New York loving. And I love New York and I love you. Everything I have ever done has been motivated by that love and I would never want to be unhelpful in any way."

Speaking to his three daughters, Cuomo said, "I want them to know from the bottom of my heart that I never did and I never would intentionally disrespect a woman, treat any woman differently than I would want them treated, and that is the God's honest truth."

"Your dad made mistakes. And he apologized, and he learned from it and that's what life is all about."

After he was first hit with sexual harassment allegations this year, Cuomo ignored bipartisan demands that he resign, and predicted the investigation that he authorized state Attorney General Letitia James to carry out would exonerate him. Instead, the report alleged that he'd harassed 11 women — nine of whom were state employees — and subjected some of them to unwelcome touching and groping. His office also retaliated against one of the women after she spoke out about how she was treated, the report alleged.

"Today, closes a sad chapter for all of New York, but it’s an important step towards justice," James, via her office's official Twitter account, said in a series of tweets following Cuomo's resignation. She added that the ascension of Hochul will help New York enter a "new day."

In the wake of the report, the state Assembly began to organize impeachment proceedings. Local law enforcement officials also announced they were investigating whether criminal charges were appropriate.

On Tuesday, Cuomo apologized for his behavior, thanked the women who came forward, but insisted that he had not intended to harass any of his accusers.

"I do hug and kiss people casually, women and men. I have done it all my life. It's who I've been since I can remember," Cuomo said. "In my mind, I've never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn't realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn. There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn't fully appreciate."

'For all of New York'
The resignation caps a remarkable fall from grace for the third-term governor, who was riding high in public opinion polls last year after his public briefings about the coronavirus pandemic in his hard-hit state were lauded.

Cuomo intended to run for a fourth term next year, a feat his three-term governor father, Mario, was not able to achieve.

"I respect the governor's decision and I respect the decision he made," President Joe Biden, who called on Cuomo to resign, told reporters Tuesday afternoon.

Asked what the impact his resignation will have on the Democratic Party, Biden responded, "I think that impact is all on Andrew Cuomo," and reiterated his respect for Cuomo's decision.