Cuomo resigns as New York governor

In a televised address, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he takes “full responsibility” for his actions, but he could not remember ever inappropriately touching anyone. The Democratic governor previously rejected calls to resign following a New York attorney general’s report alleging he sexually harassed 11 women, violating state and federal laws. He said on Tuesday he was stepping down because he does not want a legal battle to distract from governance. In a news conference just before the announcement, Cuomo’s attorney, Rita Glavin, rejected most of the report’s allegations and criticized investigators for missing key facts and witnesses. The report cited interviews with 179 witnesses and reviews of more than 74,000 documents.

What happens next? Cuomo’s resignation paves the way for New York’s first female governor. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, will take over in two weeks. The State Assembly is still in the middle of investigating a series of scandals involving Cuomo, including accusations he covered up COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.

Dig deeper: From the WORLD archives, read Emily Belz’s report about the culmination of Cuomo’s yearslong crusade to repeal protections for unborn babies in New York.