Schneiderman’s shame

Eric Schneiderman is a violent drunk who repeatedly has physically attacked women and had to immediately resign as New York attorney general. We believe the women, including two who gave their names and provided vivid recollections to Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer of The New Yorker.

The women, former lovers of Schneiderman, say that not only was he physically abusive, slapping and hitting, he also threatened them should they leave him — including, according to one, a threat to have her followed and her phones tapped.

Schneiderman has the presumption of innocence should he be charged with the crime of assault, but has lost the privilege to be the chief legal officer of the state and is properly relinquishing his office today.

No matter that he has been a champion for women in his public office. No matter that he has been a key player in going after predatory media mogul Harvey Weinstein (who was first exposed by Farrow 18 months ago). No matter that he says that his relationships were consensual.

That multiple women are taking the extraordinarily brave step to come forward with detailed and believable accusations — accusations that he does not deny but lamely tries to explain away by claiming he has engaged in “role playing” — only means that his tenure had to end. As it has.

The Weinstein era, ushered in by Farrow, who deservedly received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service last month, means that sexual abuse accusations made against powerful men cannot be greeted dismissively. Time after time after time, the charges have been proven to be true. The women (and sometimes men) who come forward, usually reluctantly, must be given the benefit of the doubt when their claims are consistent and corroborated.

In this new world it is no longer surprising. Just as any man can be an abuser, as we have sadly seen, any abuse can be exposed and taken down, bringing a little bit of justice.

If Schneiderman hadn’t jumped, he would have had to be pushed using the state Constitution’s removal procedures. Schneiderman is very familiar with those, having led the state Senate’s justified action to expel a senator who had violently attacked his girlfriend. Ironic, Eric, isn’t it?

Gov. Cuomo rightly and immediately called for Schneiderman to leave. From the time of the article’s publication to Schneiderman’s capitulation was about three hours.

Any thoughts of a walkthrough reelection against an unknown GOP opponent whose name we still don’t know are gone. Schneiderman’s only plan now is getting a good defense lawyer.

There is more than enough time for both the Democratic and Republican parties to have open primaries to select serious contenders.

The sooner they do so and New York moves on from the Schneiderman era, the better.