Embattled attorney general quits

NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who had taken on high-profile roles as an advocate for women’s issues and an antagonist to the policies of President Trump, announced late Monday that he would be resigning from office, hours after four women he was romantically involved with or had romantic interactions with accused him of physical violence in accounts published by the New Yorker.

Schneiderman, who had been running for re-election, said he contested the women’s accounts, but “while these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the office’s work at this critical time.”

He said he would resign at the close of business Tuesday.

Two women had spoken to the New Yorker on the record, saying Schneiderman repeatedly hit them during the course of their relationships with him in recent years, and never with their consent. Neither woman filed any police complaints, but both said they sought medical attention and confided in people close to them about the abuse.

A third woman who also was involved with him told her story to the two other women, but said she was too frightened to come forward. A fourth woman said Schneiderman slapped her when she rebuffed him during an intimate encounter, but also asked to remain unidentified. The New Yorker said it vetted the third woman’s allegations, and saw a photo of what the fourth woman said was her injury.

The accusations had led Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to call for an investigation and for Schneiderman to immediately resign.

The two women who spoke on the record both said the physical abuse escalated over time, including choking and hitting, and that Schneiderman also was a heavy drinker.