Hochul takes reins at NY

ALBANY: Kathy Hochul has become the first female governor of New York at the stroke of midnight, taking control of a state government desperate to get back to business after months of distractions over sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo.

The Democrat was sworn in as governor in a brief, private ceremony overseen by the state’s chief judge, Janet DiFiore.

Cuomo left office at 12 am (2 pm AEST), two weeks after he announced he would resign rather than face a likely impeachment battle.

On his final day in office, Cuomo released a pre-recorded farewell address in which he defended his record over a decade as New York’s governor and portrayed himself as the victim of a ‘‘media frenzy’’.

Hochul, who was Cuomo’s lieutenant governor, was scheduled to have a ceremonial swearing-in event later on Tuesday (local time) at the state capitol.