BREAKING: Gov. Andrew Cuomo Resigns in the Wake of Multiple Harassment Allegations

By Yehudit Garmaise

     Andrew Cuomo resigned his position as governor of New York this morning.

     “Given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is to step aside and let government get back to governing,” said Gov. Cuomo, whose resignation will go into effect in 14 days. “Doing the right thing is doing the right thing for you.

     “Kathy Hochul, my lieutenant governor is going to start and complete this transition, which must be seamless.

     “I want my three jewels to have a better future than the generations before them,” Gov. Cuomo said, addressing his three daughters. “I want to make sure that society allows them to fly as high as the world can carry them.

     “I want them to know that I never did and never would treat a woman differently than I would want them treated. And that is the G-d’s honest truth.

     “Your dad made mistakes, and he apologized and he learned from it, and that it what life is all about.

     “But don’t give up: government is still the best vehicle for lasting social change.”

     Before resigning, Gov. Cuomo continued to deny any wrongdoing and harassment, while simultaneously apologizing to the 11 staffers whom Attorney General Letitia James found, in a five month long investigation, that he harassed.

     Yesterday, two more staffers came forward, however, James told them that the investigation was now closed.

     When Gov. Cuomo started speaking, he said that he "always tells New Yorkers the facts before giving his opinion."

      "Let's start 'New York Tough' with the truth," Gov. Cuomo said. "The attorney general did a report on me on complaints about my conduct.

    "The reaction was outrage. It should have been.

     "However, it was also false.

     "My lawyer, Rita Clavin, has reviewed the report over the past several days and has already raised serious issues and flaws that should concern all New Yorkers because when there is a bias or a lack of fairness in the justice system, it is a concern for everyone: not just those immediately affected."

     Despite James' exhaustive investigation in which she interviewed 179 witnesses, Gov. Cuomo said today, "The most serious allegations made against me had no credible factual basis in the report.

     "There is a difference between alleged improper conduct and concluding harassment."

     Gov. Cuomo, then took a break from denying his actions to try to acknowledge the truth.

    "This is not to say that there are not 11 [staffers] I truly offended. There are. And for that I deeply, deeply apologize."

     Gov. Cuomo said that he thought his actions were "friendly," and was surprised that others found his actions "too forward."

     "Make no mistake," said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a statement shortly after the governor's resignation in disgrace. "This is the result of survivors bravely telling their stories. It was past time for Andrew Cuomo to resign, and it is for the good of all New York."

     Before serving New York as lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul, who is from Buffalo, assisted her mother in running a domestic violence shelter and served as a member of a town board, as county clerk, and as a congresswoman.

      "I agree with Gov. Cuomo's decision to step down," said Hochul, who will serve as the state's first female governor. "It is the right thing to do and in the best interest of New Yorkers."

(Photo by: Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of the Governor)