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New York (77WABC) – Governor Cuomo said today in a press conference that he will step aside as governor of New York State, saying he takes “full responsibility” for any perceived harassment.
“New York Tough means New York Loving, and I love New York. And I love you,” Cuomo said in a press conference. “I would never want to be unhelpful in any way.”
“The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing, and therefore that’s what I’ll do, because I work for you, and doing the right thing, is doing the right thing for you,” he added.
Cuomo faced multiple allegations within the last year that he inappropriately touched and sexually harassed women who worked with him or who he met at public events. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced last week that there were 11 incidents of sexual harassment after an independent investigation was concluded.
The investigation, which was conducted by two outside lawyers, found that the Cuomo administration was a hostile work environment “rife with fear and intimidation.”
“This is a sad day for New York because independent investigators have concluded that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and, in doing so, broke the law,” James said in a statement. “I am grateful to all the women who came forward to tell their stories in painstaking detail, enabling investigators to get to the truth. No man — no matter how powerful — can be allowed to harass women or violate our human rights laws, period.”
Despite his announced resignation, Cuomo is still maintaining his innocence. Cuomo will oficially step down in 14 days, where Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will take over, becoming the first woman to be governor of New York.
