Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that the resignation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, with whom he had often clashed on different momentous decisions for New York City, said the president’s resignation “is for the good of all of New York.” This moments after the embattled leader announced that he will leave the government in two weeks.
“Make no mistake, this is the result of the survivors courageously telling their stories,” De Blasio said. “It was about time Andrew Cuomo stepped down and it’s for the good of all of New York.”
Cuomo announced his resignation in the wake of political pressure amid the fallout from State Attorney General Letitia James’ convicting report, which found sufficient evidence of sexual harassment cases. The 165-page report, which included interviews with 179 people, found that Cuomo harassed staff members and former employees from 2013 to 2020.
The misconduct allegations first surfaced in late February when former assistant Lindsey Boylan accused Cuomo of sexual harassment. Since then, the accusations against him have accumulated and triggered the investigation.
The women accused Cuomo of making inappropriate sexual comments and engaging in unwanted touching, the most egregious of an anonymous executive assistant who claims he invited her to his residence and groped her.
Cuomo continues to deny the allegations, but with overwhelming pressure from fellow Democrats, including De Blasio, and a looming impeachment inquiry, Cuomo told a news conference Tuesday that he would resign.
“I would never want to be useless in any way, and I think under the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let the government rule again, and therefore, that is what I will do. “Cuomo said.
He also apologized for his conduct and claimed that he had never “crossed the line”.
“In my mind, I have never crossed the line with anyone, but I did not realize to what extent the line has been redrawn,” he added. “There are generational and cultural changes that I just didn’t fully appreciate. And I should have, no excuses.”
Cuomo said he will resign in 14 days and will be replaced by Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul.
De Blasio and Cuomo had clashed over a number of issues in recent years, from police surveillance to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. De Blasio had first called for Cuomo’s resignation in March and had then expressed support for an impeachment process if he refused to resign.
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