AT THE END OF HIS GROPE
Creep out! Gov. Cuomo finally resigns
In one of the most stunning downfalls in political history, Gov. Cuomo announced his resignation on Tuesday with a fullthroated defense of his behavior, even after a scathing report by the state attorney general found he had sexually harassed and retaliated against multiple women during his time in office.
“I think that, given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside,” Cuomo, 63, said in a 22-minute televised address from Manhattan.
A little more than a year ago, Cuomo was a Democratic hero to the media, feted by Hollywood darlings with an Emmy for his daily coronavirus briefings. His name was bandied about for national office as he yukked it up with CNN-anchor brother Chris.
Now Andrew leaves under a cloud of possible criminal indictments, without a clear political — or even employment — future. He doesn’t even have a place to live outside the Executive Mansion.
One particular sting: Cuomo will now end up serving less than the three full terms of the father he idolizes, late Gov. Mario Cuomo.
Casting himself as a guy just too friendly with his hugs and kisses but admitting no guilt, Cuomo said an impeachment would be a “waste of energy” and cost the taxpayers millions of dollars.
He said he was stepping down in 14 days because he “loved New York” and didn’t want to put the state through it.
Under state law, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who served as a member of Congress from 2011 to 2013, will assume the role of governor, becoming the first woman to lead the Empire State.
In a statement, Hochul commended Cuomo’s opting to leave office.
“I agree with Governor Cuomo’s decision to step down. It is the right thing to do and in the best interest of New Yorkers,” said Hochul, 62.
Attorney General Letitia James, whose report delivered a death blow to the governor’s attempt to keep his job, said: “Today closes a sad chapter for all of New York, but it’s an important step towards justice.”
The report had detailed a shocking pattern of behavior by Cuomo, in which he grabbed and groped women, pulling them in for unwanted kisses.
In one case, Cuomo had a state trooper reassigned to his detail, despite her not meeting the qualifications for the unit. Once she was assigned to the unit that kept her in close contact with Cuomo, the governor kissed her on the cheek, touched her without warning on the back and stomach, and made numerous sexually suggestive comments in her presence, she told investigators.
Meanwhile, administrative assistant Brittany Commisso — previously identified in James’ report as “Executive Assistant #1” — revealed her identity and spoke on national TV about her creepy encounters with the governor. Commisso, 32, charges the governor groped her on two occasions, including reaching under her blouse and grabbing her breast — allegations that mean Cuomo could face “a couple” of misdemeanor charges as a result of a criminal complaint she filed in Albany.
In his resignation, Cuomo chalked it all up to him being “too friendly” and suggested he was an old man in changing times.
“In my mind, I’ve never crossed the line with anyone. But, I didn’t realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn,” he said.
“There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate. And I should have — no excuses.”
Cuomo claimed he’d been taught “an important lesson, personal boundaries must be expanded and protected. I accept full responsibility.”
Then the governor proceeded to say the whole inquiry was political, with “many agendas and there are many motivations at play.”
“The political environment is too hot and it is too reactionary for that now and it is unfortunate.
“I believe that it is unfair and it is untruthful and I believe it demonizes behavior that is unsustainable for society.”
Cuomo stepping down represents a sharp reversal from his repeated refusal to resign.
His defiant public statements included a bizarre video that included a montage of the governor kissing and touching people, and Cuomo’s outside lawyers attacking some of the women who accused him of sexual harassment and questioning the credibility of James’ investigation.
He initially ignored demands to step aside from President Biden, dozens of major New York Democrats, and regular Empire State residents.
In addition, unions that formed the core of his political base jumped ship following the release of James’ probe, as did Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs, formerly a close ally, leaving Cuomo with few backers. By the day after James’ office’s findings were released, a majority of state Assembly members favored impeachment.
The avalanche of officials saying it’s time for Cuomo to go came as public opinion quickly shifted against him, as 59 percent of New York state residents believed he should resign and an equal percentage said he should be impeached if he didn’t, according to a poll conducted the same day the report was released.
A subsequent survey showed that 70 percent of voters believed the governor should resign.
On the heels of the escalating fallout, Melissa DeRosa, a longtime top aide to the governor seen as his enforcer, stepped aside.
Now the Cuomo matter becomes criminal. Prosecutors in at least five New York state counties — including Manhattan, Nassau, Westchester, Albany and Oswego — have launched separate criminal probes following the report’s substantiations of forcible touching of multiple women.