Governor says of harassment allegations: “The truth is ultimately always revealed”
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo gave his final gubernatorial address on Monday, pushing back on the women who accused him of the sexual harassment that forced his resignation and thanking New Yorkers “for the honor of serving you as governor of New York.”
In a pre-taped address that lasted just over 15 minutes, Cuomo touted what he viewed as highlights of his nearly three terms in office — but led off by assailing the Aug. 3 state attorney general’s report that outlined evidence that investigators said showed the governor had been a serial sexual harasser and fostered a toxic work environment in the Executive Chamber.
“Of course everyone has a right to come forward, and we applaud their bravery and courage in doing so,” Cuomo said. “But allegations must still be scrutinized and verified, whether made by a woman or a man — that is our basic justice system.
“Facts still matter,” Cuomo continued. “A firecracker can start a stampede, but at one point everyone looks around and says, ‘Why are we running?’ The truth is ultimately always
revealed. The attorney general’s report was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic, and it worked. There was a political and media stampede. But the truth will out in time, of that I am confident.”
On Monday evening, a few hours before his resignation took effect, Cuomo issued a terse, three-sentence letter to state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie confirming his departure.
“It has been my pleasure to serve with you both,” Cuomo wrote.
The 63-year-old governor’s resignation was set to take effect at 11:59 p.m. Monday. Lt. Gov Kathy Hochul was scheduled to be sworn in as governor about two minutes later. Hochul, a former congresswoman from Erie County who has in recent weeks noted she was never close with Cuomo, has pledged to bring a different leadership style. She also declared that she will seek to run for governor next year.
Cuomo again stated that he had considered fighting the allegations of sexual harassment, but said that a protracted political battle — he faced impeachment by the Legislature — would have caused “governmental paralysis.”
“You know me: I am a fighter and my instinct is to fight this, because it is unfair and unjust in my mind,” he said. “But you also know that I love New York and I serve you. That is the oath that I took, and in this moment I believe the right thing is is that my service comes first.”
Cuomo’s departure — in the penultimate year of his third term — comes as he is still under investigation by the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn, which is examining whether his administration deliberately misled the public last year when it underreported the number of COVID -19 deaths involving nursing home residents.
He also is the subject of a second investigation by the state attorney general’s office — requested by Comptroller Tom Dinapoli — into allegations he used state employees to help him write a book last year about his handling of the pandemic.
In addition, there have been revelations recently about the governor’s meddling in the State Police detail that protected his office, including accusations that troopers were used as drivers to shuttle his family members on trips for personal matters.
Cuomo said that reviving the state’s ailing economy and stopping violent crime should be a priority moving forward.
He contended no governor in the country has passed more progressive measure than he did, but he criticized fellow Democrats who have called to “defund the police.”
“I believe it is misguided. I believe it is dangerous,” he said. “Gun crime and violence are savaging inner cities. Look at New York City, the majority of victims are poor, Black and brown.”
You know me: I am a fighter and my instinct is to fight this, because it is unfair and unjust in my mind. But you also know that I love New York and I serve you. That is the oath that I took, and in this moment I believe the right thing is that my service comes first.”
— Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo
Cuomo again touted the overturning of the federal government’s reduction of the federal deduction for state and local taxes as a top priority for New York, and said reversing the Trump-era shift would lower the tax burden on state residents and businesses by about $15 billion a year.
In remarks akin to a final campaign speech, he also listed what he saw as his major accomplishments in building and improving infrastructure, including Penn Station in Manhattan, and revisited well-worn observations about New York taking its rate of COVID -19 infections from the highest in the nation to the lowest.
Although it will be out of his reach to decide, Cuomo also suggested the state take action and mandate that teachers be vaccinated and that private businesses be ordered to verify the vaccinations of people attending large gatherings.
“Let us remember, political procrastination is COVID collaboration,” he said.
The governor finished his remarks touting three key hallmarks of his administration: the 2011 Marriage Equality Act, raising the minimum wage, and enacting what he said are nation-leading gun safety measures.
“We didn’t get everything done that we wanted to, or even everything that we should have done, and we didn’t always get it quite right,” he said. “But I want you to know that from the bottom of my heart, that every day I worked my hardest ... to deliver for you, and that is the God’s honest truth.”