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'Don't let him off the hook!' Critics DEMAND Cuomo still face criminal prosecution: De Blasio gloats over his nemesis' fall from grace as he resigns over sex-pest scandal

Critics of Andrew Cuomo have said the disgraced governor must not be let off the hook following his stunning resignation and must still face criminal prosecution for sexually harassing multiple women.

Lawmakers and public figures spoke out Tuesday to demand he be prosecuted to the 'full extent of the law' while some called on the state assembly to continue pursuing his impeachment to prevent the suspected sex pest from ever running for office again.  

Cuomo still faces at least three criminal investigations, at least one lawsuit and possible impeachment following the findings of New York Attorney General Letitia James' damning report last week.  

James' report found that the governor broke state and federal laws by squally harassing at least 11 women and retaliating against at least one. 

The District Attorneys of Manhattan, Albany and Westchester all opened criminal investigations into Cuomo's conduct last week and urged women to come forward.

Since then, one woman - Brittany Commisso - has filed a report with the Albany Sheriff's office. 

Commisso is named as 'executive assistant number one' in James' report. She has accused the governor of groping her breast at the executive mansion in November.  

Cuomo's resignation has no bearing on the criminal probes, with Albany County DA Spokesperson Cecilia Walsh saying Tuesday its investigation is very much still 'open and pending.' 

'We will not be making a comment about the resignation at this time. Our inquiry into criminal conduct in our jurisdiction remains open and pending,' she said.  

Cuomo also faces lawsuits over his behavior with at least one of his accusers - Lindsey Boylan - saying she intends to sue him.   

New York Attorney General Letitia James stuck the knife in Tuesday as she described the day's events as a 'sad chapter for all of New York' and thanked him for 'his contributions to the state'

New York Attorney General Letitia James stuck the knife in Tuesday as she described the day's events as a 'sad chapter for all of New York' and thanked him for 'his contributions to the state' 

James announcing the findings of her bombshell report last Tuesday where she concluded that he had sexually harassed 11 women and retaliated against at least one

James announcing the findings of her bombshell report last Tuesday where she concluded that he had sexually harassed 11 women and retaliated against at least one

Cuomo announced his resignation Tuesday (above) while still continuing to profess his innocence

Cuomo announced his resignation Tuesday while still continuing to profess his innocence 

James stuck the knife in Tuesday as she described the day's events as a 'sad chapter for all of New York' and thanked him for 'his contributions to the state.'

James' bombshell report spelled the final nail in the coffin for Cuomo's catastrophic fall from grace as her investigation concluded last week that he had sexually harassed 11 women and retaliated against at least one.   

Cuomo's longtime nemesis Bill de Blasio was also among the first to chime in on his resignation, gloating that it was 'past time' he stood down, while Jen Psaki praised the 'courageous women' who came forward with their allegations against the disgraced governor. 

When asked about Cuomo's resignation, President Joe Biden simply said: 'I respect the governor's decision and I respect the decision he made.' 

However, when pressed, he later added that he believed Cuomo had done a 'hell of a job' as governor of the state. The president insisted he was specifically referring to the governor's work on voting rights and infrastructure.  

Calls for Cuomo's resignation soared over the last week - including from former Democrat ally Biden - ever since James' office released the findings of its report. 

Cuomo finally bowed to pressure, announcing his exit in a press conference Tuesday where he continued to profess his innocence and brush off the allegations by his alleged victims as 'generational or cultural' differences.  

He will be replaced by Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul when his resignation goes into effect in 14 days.    

Reaction to Cuomo's political demise poured in Tuesday with several critics - including New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik and one-time political rival Cynthia Nixon - insisting that accountability for his alleged actions must not stop with his job loss, as they called for him to be prosecuted to the 'full extent of the law.' 

James rubbed salt in the wound Tuesday over his resignation, which brought to a crashing end his political career and his dreams of serving four terms as governor of the state. 

'Today, closes a sad chapter for all of New York, but it's an important step towards justice. 

'I thank Governor Cuomo for his contributions to our state,' she wrote.

The AG welcomed Hochul to the role, saying New York is now in 'good hands'.   

'The ascension of our Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul, will help New York enter a new day,' she said in a statement posted on Twitter.  

Andrew Cuomo's longtime nemesis Bill de Blasio was one of the first to chime in on his resignation, gloating that it was 'past time' he stood down

Andrew Cuomo's longtime nemesis Bill de Blasio was one of the first to chime in on his resignation, gloating that it was 'past time' he stood down

De Blasio and Cuomo in 2013 before their relationship soured. There has been no love lost between the governor and the mayor for many years with the two men - who once fawned over their close working relationship - repeatedly locking horns throughout the pandemic

De Blasio and Cuomo in 2013 before their relationship soured. There has been no love lost between the governor and the mayor for many years with the two men - who once fawned over their close working relationship - repeatedly locking horns throughout the pandemic

'We must continue to build on the progress already made and improve the lives of New Yorkers in every corner of the state. 

'I know our state is in good hands with Lieutenant Governor Hochul at the helm, and I look forward to continuing to work with her.' 

Hochul - who will become the state's first female governor - also commented that she agreed the governor's decision is 'the right thing to do.'

'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,' she tweeted.

'As someone who has served at all levels of government and is next in the line of succession, I am prepared to lead as New York State's 57th Governor.'

New York City Mayor de Blasio also couldn't resist taking aim at his longtime foe, tweeting within minutes of Cuomo's press conference that his exit was 'for the good of all New York.' 

'Make no mistake, this is the result of survivors bravely telling their stories,' he wrote. 

'It was past time for Andrew Cuomo to resign and it's for the good of all New York.' 

There has been no love lost between the governor and the mayor for many years with the two men - who once fawned over their close working relationship - repeatedly locking horns throughout the pandemic.   

De Blasio has been one of the loudest voices demanding Cuomo stand down or be ousted from his role via state impeachment proceedings over the last week.  

White House Press Secretary Psaki also addressed Cuomo's departure in her briefing Tuesday, revealing that Biden had not been given a heads-up before the announcement

White House Press Secretary Psaki also addressed Cuomo's departure in her briefing Tuesday, revealing that Biden had not been given a heads-up before the announcement

When asked about Cuomo's resignation, President Joe Biden simply said: 'I respect the governor's decision and I respect the decision he made.' However, when pressed, he later added that he believed Cuomo had done a 'hell of a job' as governor of the state

When asked about Cuomo's resignation, President Joe Biden simply said: 'I respect the governor's decision and I respect the decision he made.' However, when pressed, he later added that he believed Cuomo had done a 'hell of a job' as governor of the state

White House Press Secretary Psaki also addressed Cuomo's departure in her briefing Tuesday, revealing that Biden had not been given a heads-up before the announcement.  

'Our view is that this is a story about these courageous women who came forward, told their stories, shared their stories,' she said.

'The investigation overseen by the attorney general, that of course concluded today is an outcome that the president called for just last week.'  

Several New York Democrats also took to social media to welcome Cuomo's resignation and commend his alleged victims who came forward. 

New York Senator and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said: 'There is no place for sexual harassment, and today's announcement by Governor Cuomo to resign was the right decision for the good of the people of New York.' 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also said Cuomo's resignation was a positive move for the state. 

'First and foremost, I want to thank the incredibly courageous women who came forward and shared their stories. They are the true public servants here,' she said in a statement.

'New York now has a chance to move forward and build a new culture of leadership.' 

New York Assembly member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas said his exit was 'what NY needs' and said she looked forward to working with his successor -

'Thank you to all of the survivors who have come forward to tell their stories. This is what NY needs,' she tweeted. 

Fellow Democrat assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte described Cuomo's exit as 'the beginning of the end of a nightmare for the state of New York' in an appearance on CNN. 

Hochul - who will become the state's first female governor - also commented that she agreed the governor's decision is 'the right thing to do'

Hochul - who will become the state's first female governor - also commented that she agreed the governor's decision is 'the right thing to do'

Several critics - including New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik and one-time political rival Cynthia Nixon - insisting that accountability for his alleged actions must not stop with his job loss, as they called for him to be prosecuted to the 'full extent of the law'

Several critics - including New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik and one-time political rival Cynthia Nixon - insisting that accountability for his alleged actions must not stop with his job loss, as they called for him to be prosecuted to the 'full extent of the law' 

'I'm ready to work with incoming Governor @KathyHochul to ensure we move our state forward, enact real reform, and address the urgent needs of New Yorkers.'

New York Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney wrote: 'This is the right decision for New York. I thank the women who bravely spoke up. #believewomen.' 

Eric Adams, the ex-cop and frontrunner for New York City Mayor, said Cuomo's resignation was 'in the best interest of all New Yorkers.'

'This is the right decision and is in the best interest of all New Yorkers. I stand ready to work with incoming Governor @KathyHochul as we guide our City through these challenging times and do the hard work of leading a safe, equitable recovery for NYC,' he tweeted. 

Adams last week called on Cuomo to resign or face impeachment - just three weeks after he stood side by side with him at an anti-gun violence meeting in Brooklyn.

Meanwhile, New York State Assembly Yuh-Line Niou called for the governor to still be impeached in order to ensure such 'serial abuse' cannot take place again and so that Cuomo cannot receive his state pension or run for office again.  

'We must remember that the governor's misuse of office extends far beyond the women he victimized,' she said.

Meanwhile, New York State Assembly Yuh-Line Niou called for the governor to still be impeached in order to ensure such 'serial abuse' cannot take place again and so that Cuomo cannot receive his state pension or run for office again

Meanwhile, New York State Assembly Yuh-Line Niou called for the governor to still be impeached in order to ensure such 'serial abuse' cannot take place again and so that Cuomo cannot receive his state pension or run for office again

Lindsey Boylan, who was the first woman to come forward with accusations of sexual harassment against the governor in December, thanked James and her team for pursuing 'the truth' and praised her fellow alleged victims for their 'strength'

Lindsey Boylan, who was the first woman to come forward with accusations of sexual harassment against the governor in December, thanked James and her team for pursuing 'the truth' and praised her fellow alleged victims for their 'strength'

'It extends to the millions he made using our tax dollars on a book deal in total mockery of state ethics laws. It extends to the victims of COVID-19 whose deaths he concealed from state lawmakers.'

Niou continued: 'This is a pattern of his abuse of power and impeachment is an appropriate and necessary step.

'Impeachment means New York will not be paying Andrew Cuomo's pension for the rest of his life after disgusting abuses of power. 

'Impeachment means Governor Cuomo will not be able to run for office again by claiming to be the victim and gaslighting the true victims. Resignation is not the solution, it is a long overdue first step.'

Her comments came after journalist Chuck Todd said on MSNBC that the governor could avoid impeachment by jumping before he was pushed and that it could be a move to enable him to run for office in future.   

'I think Cuomo believes he can go and live another day,' Todd said.  

New York Lieutenant Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to replace Gov. Andrew Cuomo when he stands down in 14 days

New York Lieutenant Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to replace Gov. Andrew Cuomo when he stands down in 14 days

'I expect in my lifetime, Andrew Cuomo to run for office again. What that office is? I don't know, but that's what this resignation tells me today. He wants to live to fight another day.' 

Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican, tweeted: 'Governor Cuomo's resignation is long past overdue. 

'Now, former Governor Cuomo needs to be prosecuted and arrested for sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual grooming.' 

Stefanik has criticized Cuomo throughout the pandemic, publicly opposing his plan to shift ventilators from less hard-hit areas of the state to New York City last year. 

The Republican congresswoman was schoolfriends with Cuomo's top aide Melissa DeRosa after they both attended elite prep school Albany Academy for Girls in upstate New York. 

Their friendship even survived their opposing political paths until a report revealed DeRosa allegedly 'screamed' at and 'bullied' Stefanik over her opposition to the governor's ventilator plan.  

De Rosa announced her resignation Monday - one day before her boss followed suit.

In her announcement, she made no mention of the governor.

'It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve the people of New York for the past 10 years,' DeRosa said in a statement. 

'New Yorkers' resilience, strength and optimism through the most difficult times has inspired me every day.    

Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean - whose in-laws died in NY nursing homes - said she was 'in shock' because she thought he'd 'blame everybody else'

Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean - whose in-laws died in NY nursing homes - said she was 'in shock' because she thought he'd 'blame everybody else'

'I didn't think he was going to do it,' Dean told Fox News' Harris Faulkner Tuesday

'I didn't think he was going to do it,' Dean told Fox News' Harris Faulkner Tuesday 

'Personally, the past two years have been emotionally and mentally trying. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such talented and committed colleagues.'

However, in an internal email, she thanked Cuomo. 'I am forever grateful to Governor Cuomo for giving me this opportunity and allowing me to join him in fighting for - and realizing - all of the great accomplishments that have made New York the progressive capital of the nation once again,' she wrote.

Republican New York Rep. Claudia Tenney also called for the governor's criminal prosecution as she mocked that the 'corrupt reign of King Cuomo is over.'

'The corrupt reign of King Cuomo is over at last, but the fight for justice and accountability is just beginning,' she tweeted.  

'Investigations into Cuomo's abuse of power, corruption, and criminal misconduct must continue. Cuomo should be immediately prosecuted, not just for sexual harassment and assault, but also for his deadly nursing home policies and subsequent cover up.' 

Cynthia Nixon, the Sex and the City star who ran unsuccessfully against Cuomo for governor in 2018, branded her rival 'unfit'. 

'A man who hires and promotes known sexual harassers is a man who condones sexual harassment,' she tweeted.

'We knew this about Cuomo years ago. It should've never required 11 different women to come forward to finally acknowledge how fundamentally unfit he is for the highest office in NYS.' 

 

Several New York Democrats also welcomed Cuomo's resignation and commended his alleged victims who came forward

Several New York Democrats also welcomed Cuomo's resignation and commended his alleged victims who came forward

Nixon went on to thank the 'brave women' who came forward to accuse the governor and called for Cuomo to be prosecuted to 'the full extent of the law.'

'Thank you to @LindseyBoylan @_char_bennett_ Brittany Commisso, State Trooper #1, the incredible Sexual Harassment Working Group, @TishJameS and ALL the brave women who stood up and fought back to make this day happen,' she wrote. 

'This is a good day for New York. This is the start of accountability, but more needs to be done to keep women safe.

'That means prosecuting Cuomo to the full extent of the law. And it means moving forward with impeachment, to bar him from running for statewide office ever again.'

Lindsey Boylan, who was the first woman to come forward with accusations of sexual harassment against the governor in December, thanked James and her team for pursuing 'the truth' and praised her fellow alleged victims for their 'strength.'

'From the beginning, I simply asked that the Governor stop his abusive behavior. It became abundantly clear he was unable to do that, instead attacking and blaming victims until the end. It is a tragedy that so many stood by and watched these abuses happen,' she wrote. 

'I am thankful for the Attorney General, the investigators and all those who have pursued the truth despite intimidation and threats of retaliation.'

She continued: 'Most importantly, I am in awe of the strength of the other women who risked everything to come forward. 

'My hope always has been that this will make it safer for other women to report their own harassment and abuse. I will continue the fight to make that happen.'

Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean said she as 'in shock' over his resignation because she thought he was going to 'blame everybody else like he usually does.'

'I didn't think he was going to do it,' Dean told Fox News' Harris Faulkner. 

'I sat there and I thought to myself, he's going to blame everybody else like he usually does. Blame her, blame them… God, Mother Nature, The New York Post.

'I'm in shock, I'm not going to lie. I got a text from my sister-in-law and I texted my husband, and I said, 'He's gone.''  

Republican lawmakers also reacted to Cuomo's announcement, with Texas Senator Ted Cruz leading the charge

Republican lawmakers also reacted to Cuomo's announcement, with Texas Senator Ted Cruz leading the charge

Dean has been a strong critic of Cuomo after her own mother-in-law and father-in-law died from COVID-19 in New York nursing homes, after the governor issued a controversial directive ordering facilities to take back infected patients. 

She called the news 'some kind of divine intervention' after she said they had just attended a memorial service for her in-laws.

'I will say that I believe that being on the side of the angels has helped us, and he has nowhere to go. He had nowhere to go. He was in a corner and people were jumping off the sinking ship like rats,' she said. 

Dean added that while it's a 'good day', she wants 'justice' for both the women he is accused of harassing and the people who died in state nursing homes. 

'Today's a good day, but I will say this, Harris, I want justice. I don't want this to be the end of the chapter,' she said. 

'I want those investigations to continue. I want justice for those women, those brave women that came forward, and I want justice for those who have no voice, who are in a grave right now because of his mandate.' 

Republican lawmakers also reacted to Cuomo's announcement, with Texas Senator Ted Cruz leading the charge.  

'How long till @CNN launches their new prime-time show Cuomo & Cuomo?' he wrote.

CNN has come under fire after James' report found TV host Chris Cuomo advised his brother during the scandal. 

Since the report's release, Chris has not been permitted to address the scandal due to conflict of interest.  

At the height of the pandemic last year, the governor regularly appeared on Chris's show.   

Melissa DeRosa's internal email announcing her departure thanked Cuomo. Her public statement made no mention of the governor

 Melissa DeRosa's internal email announcing her departure thanked Cuomo. Her public statement made no mention of the governor

Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs also hit out at the brothers following Tuesday's announcement.

'Gov. Cuomo has resigned, and CNN Cuomo should be next in line,' the Republican wrote.

'Harassment should never be tolerated, and covering up the deaths of thousands of senior citizens can NOT be forgotten.' 

Former New York City mayor and staunch Trump ally Rudy Giuliani claimed the timing of Cuomo's resignation was intentional as it coincided with the passing of Biden's infrastructure bill.

'Timing of Cuomo statement is vintage Andrew,' he tweeted. 

'It buries the Schumer-Pelosi celebration for sucking in questionable Republicans for the biggest increase in dependency payments falsely advertised as an infrastructure bill. Poetic justice!'

The governor dropped the bombshell that he was bowing to the escalating calls for his resignation around 20 minutes into a rambling speech where he continued to deny the allegations. 

Before his resignation speech, Cuomo's attorney Rita Glavin gave a long press conference where she once again tried to rubbish the accusations of the multiple alleged victims who have come forward.  

Besides the sexual harassment scandal, Cuomo is also under multiple other investigations for his handling of the pandemic.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo leaves Manhattan Tuesday after announcing that he plans to resign

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo leaves Manhattan Tuesday after announcing that he plans to resign 

Cuomo was joined by his daughters Michaela, 23, and Mariah, 26 (center). His other 26-year-old daughter Cara was not there. Melissa DeRosa, his fiercest aide who quit on Sunday, was also with him (far left)

Cuomo was joined by his daughters Michaela, 23, and Mariah, 26 . His other 26-year-old daughter Cara was not there. Melissa DeRosa, his fiercest aide who quit on Sunday, was also with him (far left) 

Cuomo was joined by his two top aides, Melissa DeRosa - who resigned on Sunday - and Stephanie Benton, who was pictured inside the Executive Mansion with him earlier this week

Cuomo was joined by his two top aides, Melissa DeRosa - who resigned on Sunday - and Stephanie Benton, who was pictured inside the Executive Mansion with him earlier this week

Once hailed a hero for leading New York while it was the virus epicenter of the world - even winning an Emmy for his daily press conferences - he has also been rocked by the COVID-19 nursing home deaths scandal, pointed questions over the writing of his controversial memoir and the alleged special treatment afforded to his friends and family in the early days of the pandemic.

None of these scandals made an appearance in his resignation speech. 

Instead, the governor insisted he was stepping aside for the good of New Yorkers, adding that he is concerned about the new Delta variant of COVID-19. 

'The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to government,' Cuomo said announcing his resignation.

'So therefore that is what I'll do because I work for you. Doing the right thing is doing the right thing for you.'    

New York Attorney General Letitia James released her damning report Tuesday that found the governor sexually harassed at least 11 women, including nine state employees.  

Cuomo also retaliated against one of his accusers, the 168-page report found.   

ANDREW CUOMO'S RESIGNATION SPEECH IN FULL

Good morning. Let me begin by thanking Rita Glavin for that powerful presentation. I’d like to address several issues today. First, I’ve always started by telling New Yorkers the facts before my opinion. So let’s start New York tough with the truth. The attorney general did a report on complaints made against me by certain women for my conduct. The report said I sexually harassed 11 women. That was the headline people heard and saw and reacted to. The reaction was outrage. It should have been. However, it was also false. My lawyers, as you just heard from Rita Glavin, have reviewed the report over the past several days and have 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.

The most serious allegations made against me had no credible factual basis in the report. And there is a difference between alleged improper conduct and concluding sexual harassment. Now, don’t get me wrong, this is not to say that there are not 11 women who I truly offended. There are. And for that I deeply, deeply apologize.

I thought a hug and putting my arm around a staff person while taking a picture was friendly, but she found it to be too forward. I kissed a woman on the cheek at a wedding and I thought I was being nice, but she felt that it was too aggressive. I have slipped and called people honey, sweetheart and darling. I meant it to be endearing, but women found it dated and offensive. I said on national TV to a doctor wearing PPE and giving me a Covid nasal swab, “You make that gown look good.” I was joking, obviously, otherwise I wouldn’t have said it on national TV. But she found it disrespectful. I take full responsibility for my actions.

I have been too familiar with people. My sense of humor can be insensitive and off-putting. I do hug and kiss people casually, women and men. I have done it all my life. It’s who I’ve been since I can remember. 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. There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate, and I should have. No excuses.

The report did bring to light a matter that I was not aware of and that I would like to address. A female trooper relayed a concern that she found disturbing, and so do I. Please let me provide some context. The governor’s trooper detail had about 65 troopers on it, but of the 65 only six women and nine Black troopers. I’m very proud of the diversity of my administration. It’s more diverse than any administration in history. And I’m very proud of the fact that I have more women in senior positions than any governor before me.

The lack of diversity on the state police detail was an ongoing disappointment for me. In many ways, the governor’s detail is the face of state government that people see. When I attend an event, people see the detail that’s with me. I was continuously trying to recruit more to diversify. On one occasion, I met two female troopers who were on duty at an event. Both seemed competent and impressive, and I asked the state police to see if they were interested in joining. I often meet people, men and women, and if they show promise, I refer them to be interviewed. The state police handled the interviewing and the hiring, and one of the two troopers eventually joined the detail. I got to know her over time, and she’s a great professional, and I would sometimes banter with her when we were in the car. We spent a lot of time driving around the state. This female trooper was getting married, and I made some jokes about the negative consequences of married life. I meant it to be humorous. She was offended, and she was right.

The trooper also said that in an elevator I touched her back and when I was walking past her in a doorway I touched her stomach. Now I don’t recall doing it, but if she said I did it, I believe her. At public events, troopers will often hold doors open or guard the doorways. When I walk past them, I often will give them a grip of the arm, a pat on face, a touch on the stomach, a slap on the back. It’s my way of saying, ‘I see you. I appreciate you, and I thank you.’ I’m not comfortable just walking past and ignoring them. Of course, usually they are male troopers. In this case, I don’t remember doing it at all. I didn’t do it consciously with the female trooper. I did not mean any sexual connotation. I did not mean any intimacy by it. I just wasn’t thinking. It was totally thoughtless in the literal sense of the word, but it was also insensitive. It was embarrassing to her, and it was disrespectful. It was a mistake, plain and simple. I have no other words to explain it. I want to personally apologize to her and her family. I have the greatest respect for her and for the New York State Police.

Now, obviously, in a highly political matter like this, there are many agendas and there are many motivations at play. If anyone thought otherwise, they would be naive, and New Yorkers are not naive. But I want to thank the women who came forward with sincere complaints. It’s not easy to step forward, but you did an important service, and you taught me and you taught others an important lesson: personal boundaries must be expanded and must be protected. I accept full responsibility.

Part of being New York tough is being New York smart. New York smart tells us that this situation and moment are not about the facts. It’s not about the truth. It’s not about thoughtful analysis. It’s not about how do we make the system better. This is about politics, and our political system today is too often driven by the extremes. Rashness has replaced reasonableness. Loudness has replaced soundness. Twitter has become the public square for policy debate. There is an intelligent discussion to be had on gender-based actions on generational and cultural behavioral differences on setting higher standards and finding reasonable resolutions. But the political environment is too hot and it is too reactionary for that now, and it is unfortunate.

Now, you know me. I’m a New Yorker, born and bred. I am a fighter, and my instinct is to fight through this controversy because I truly believe it is politically motivated. I believe it is unfair and it is untruthful, and I believe that it demonizes behavior that is unsustainable for society. If I could communicate the facts through the frenzy, New Yorkers would understand. I believe that, but when I took my oath as governor, then it changed. I became a fighter, but I became a fighter for you, and it is your best interests that I must serve. This situation by its current trajectory will generate months of political and legal controversy. That is what is going to happen. That is how the political wind is blowing. It will consume government. It will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. It will brutalize people.

The State Assembly yesterday outlined weeks of process that will then lead to months of litigation, time and money that government should spend managing Covid, guarding against the Delta variant, reopening upstate, fighting gun violence and saving New York City. All that time would be wasted. This is one of the most challenging times for government in a generation. Government really needs to function today. Government needs to perform. It is a matter of life and death — government operations, and wasting energy on distractions is the last thing that state government should be doing. And I can not be the cause of that.

New York tough means New York loving, and I love New York, and I love you. And everything I have ever done has been motivated by that love. And I would never want to be unhelpful in any way. And I think that given the circumstances, 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. Because as we say, “It’s not about me. It’s about we.”

Kathy Hochul, my lieutenant governor, is smart and competent. This transition must be seamless. We have a lot going on. I’m very worried about the Delta variant, and so should you be. But she can come up to speed quickly. And my resignation will be effective in 14 days.

To my team: Melissa DeRosa, Robert Mujica, Beth Garvey, Stephanie Benton, Dana Carotenuto, Kelly Cummings, Rich Azzopardi, Howard Zucker, Rick Cotton, Janno Lieber, Jack Davies and the hundreds of dedicated administration officials. I want to say this: Thank you. Thank you. And be proud. We made New York state the progressive capital of the nation. No other state government accomplished more to help people. And that is what it’s all about.

Just think about what we did. We passed marriage equality, creating a new civil right. Legalized love for the L.G.B.T.Q. community and we generated a force for change that swept the nation. We passed the SAFE Act years ago, the smartest gun safety law in the United States of America, and it banned the madness of assault weapons. We’ve saved countless lives with that law. Fifteen dollar minimum wage, the highest minimum wage in the nation, lifting millions of families’ standard of living, putting more food on the table and clothes on their backs. And we led the nation in economic justice with that reform. We have managed every emergency mother nature could throw at us: fires, floods, hurricanes, super storms and pandemics.

We balanced the state budget and we got it done on time, more than any other administration because government should work and perform. Free college tuition for struggling families. Nobody in the state will be denied their college dreams because of their income. We have built new airports, rail, transit, roads, all across this state, faster and better than ever before, and more than any state in the nation. The most effective green economy program in the nation. We did more for Black and Latino families than any other administration. We did more for working families. We did more for our union brothers and sisters. We did more to battle racism and anti-Semitism.

Today so much of the politics is just noise, just static, and that’s why people tune it out. What matters is actually improving people’s lives, and that’s what you did. You made this state a better state for the generations that follow, and that is undeniable, inarguable and true, even in these ugly, crazy times.

I thank Speaker Carl Heastie and Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for their leadership. And let me say this on a personal note. In many ways, I see the world through the eyes of my daughters, Cara, Mariah and Michaela. They are 26 and 26, twins, and 23. And I have lived this experience with and through them. I have sat on the couch with them, hearing the ugly accusations for weeks. I’ve seen the look in their eyes, and the expression on their faces, and it hurt. I want my three jewels to know this. My greatest goal is for them to have a better future than the generations of women before them.

It is still in many ways a man’s world. It always has been. We have sexism that is culturalized and institutionalized. My daughters have more talent and natural gifts than I ever had. I want to make sure that society allows them to fly as high as their wings will carry them. There should be no assumptions, no stereotypes, no limitations. I want them to know from the bottom of my heart that I never did and I never would intentionally disrespect a woman or treat any woman differently than I would want them treated. And that is the God’s honest truth. Your dad made mistakes, and he apologized, and he learned from it. And that’s what life is all about.

And I know the political process is flawed. And I understand their cynicism and distrust and disappointment now. But don’t give it up. Because government is still the best vehicle for making positive social change.

Lastly, I want to remind all New Yorkers of an important lesson and one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and that’s what you New Yorkers did in battling Covid. The enemy landed in New York State. Covid launched the attack here. It came on planes from Europe, and we had no idea. It was an ambush. And it was up to New Yorkers to fight back. We were on our own, and it was war.

Nurses, doctors, essential workers became our front line heroes. Hospitals became the battlegrounds. Streets were still, and sirens filled the city’s silence. Trailers carried the bodies of our fallen brothers and sisters. But you refused to give up, and you fought back, and you won, going from the highest infection rate in the nation to one of the lowest. No one thought we could do it. But you did it. You led the nation, and you showed the way forward. And how you did it is what’s most important. You did it together, not as Black New Yorkers or white New Yorkers, not as L.G.B.T.Q. New Yorkers or straight New Yorkers, or Democrats or Republicans, or upstate or downtstate, or Jewish, Muslim, Protestant or Catholic New Yorkers, but as one community, one family, the family of New York. You overcame the naysayers and the haters and the fear and the division. And you unified, and you rose and you overcame.

And you saved lives. And that was powerful in its effect. It was beautiful to see. And it was an honor to lead. Please remember that lesson. Hold it dear and hold it up high for this nation to see because it is New York State at her finest, creating her legacy, fulfilling her destiny, giving life an animation to the lady in the harbor, saying “excelsior we can be better. We can reach higher.” And proclaiming, E Pluribus Unum. Out of many one. unity, community, love. That is our founding premise, and our enduring promise. And that is the salvation of this nation that it so desperately needs to hear. Thank you for the honor of serving you. It has been the honor of my lifetime. God bless you.  

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ANDREW CUOMO'S RESIGNATION SPEECH IN FULL

Good morning. Let me begin by thanking Rita Glavin for that powerful presentation. I’d like to address several issues today. First, I’ve always started by telling New Yorkers the facts before my opinion. So let’s start New York tough with the truth. The attorney general did a report on complaints made against me by certain women for my conduct. The report said I sexually harassed 11 women. That was the headline people heard and saw and reacted to. The reaction was outrage. It should have been. However, it was also false. My lawyers, as you just heard from Rita Glavin, have reviewed the report over the past several days and have 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.

The most serious allegations made against me had no credible factual basis in the report. And there is a difference between alleged improper conduct and concluding sexual harassment. Now, don’t get me wrong, this is not to say that there are not 11 women who I truly offended. There are. And for that I deeply, deeply apologize.

I thought a hug and putting my arm around a staff person while taking a picture was friendly, but she found it to be too forward. I kissed a woman on the cheek at a wedding and I thought I was being nice, but she felt that it was too aggressive. I have slipped and called people honey, sweetheart and darling. I meant it to be endearing, but women found it dated and offensive. I said on national TV to a doctor wearing PPE and giving me a Covid nasal swab, “You make that gown look good.” I was joking, obviously, otherwise I wouldn’t have said it on national TV. But she found it disrespectful. I take full responsibility for my actions.

I have been too familiar with people. My sense of humor can be insensitive and off-putting. I do hug and kiss people casually, women and men. I have done it all my life. It’s who I’ve been since I can remember. 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. There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate, and I should have. No excuses.

The report did bring to light a matter that I was not aware of and that I would like to address. A female trooper relayed a concern that she found disturbing, and so do I. Please let me provide some context. The governor’s trooper detail had about 65 troopers on it, but of the 65 only six women and nine Black troopers. I’m very proud of the diversity of my administration. It’s more diverse than any administration in history. And I’m very proud of the fact that I have more women in senior positions than any governor before me.

The lack of diversity on the state police detail was an ongoing disappointment for me. In many ways, the governor’s detail is the face of state government that people see. When I attend an event, people see the detail that’s with me. I was continuously trying to recruit more to diversify. On one occasion, I met two female troopers who were on duty at an event. Both seemed competent and impressive, and I asked the state police to see if they were interested in joining. I often meet people, men and women, and if they show promise, I refer them to be interviewed. The state police handled the interviewing and the hiring, and one of the two troopers eventually joined the detail. I got to know her over time, and she’s a great professional, and I would sometimes banter with her when we were in the car. We spent a lot of time driving around the state. This female trooper was getting married, and I made some jokes about the negative consequences of married life. I meant it to be humorous. She was offended, and she was right.

The trooper also said that in an elevator I touched her back and when I was walking past her in a doorway I touched her stomach. Now I don’t recall doing it, but if she said I did it, I believe her. At public events, troopers will often hold doors open or guard the doorways. When I walk past them, I often will give them a grip of the arm, a pat on face, a touch on the stomach, a slap on the back. It’s my way of saying, ‘I see you. I appreciate you, and I thank you.’ I’m not comfortable just walking past and ignoring them. Of course, usually they are male troopers. In this case, I don’t remember doing it at all. I didn’t do it consciously with the female trooper. I did not mean any sexual connotation. I did not mean any intimacy by it. I just wasn’t thinking. It was totally thoughtless in the literal sense of the word, but it was also insensitive. It was embarrassing to her, and it was disrespectful. It was a mistake, plain and simple. I have no other words to explain it. I want to personally apologize to her and her family. I have the greatest respect for her and for the New York State Police.

Now, obviously, in a highly political matter like this, there are many agendas and there are many motivations at play. If anyone thought otherwise, they would be naive, and New Yorkers are not naive. But I want to thank the women who came forward with sincere complaints. It’s not easy to step forward, but you did an important service, and you taught me and you taught others an important lesson: personal boundaries must be expanded and must be protected. I accept full responsibility.

Part of being New York tough is being New York smart. New York smart tells us that this situation and moment are not about the facts. It’s not about the truth. It’s not about thoughtful analysis. It’s not about how do we make the system better. This is about politics, and our political system today is too often driven by the extremes. Rashness has replaced reasonableness. Loudness has replaced soundness. Twitter has become the public square for policy debate. There is an intelligent discussion to be had on gender-based actions on generational and cultural behavioral differences on setting higher standards and finding reasonable resolutions. But the political environment is too hot and it is too reactionary for that now, and it is unfortunate.

Now, you know me. I’m a New Yorker, born and bred. I am a fighter, and my instinct is to fight through this controversy because I truly believe it is politically motivated. I believe it is unfair and it is untruthful, and I believe that it demonizes behavior that is unsustainable for society. If I could communicate the facts through the frenzy, New Yorkers would understand. I believe that, but when I took my oath as governor, then it changed. I became a fighter, but I became a fighter for you, and it is your best interests that I must serve. This situation by its current trajectory will generate months of political and legal controversy. That is what is going to happen. That is how the political wind is blowing. It will consume government. It will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. It will brutalize people.

The State Assembly yesterday outlined weeks of process that will then lead to months of litigation, time and money that government should spend managing Covid, guarding against the Delta variant, reopening upstate, fighting gun violence and saving New York City. All that time would be wasted. This is one of the most challenging times for government in a generation. Government really needs to function today. Government needs to perform. It is a matter of life and death — government operations, and wasting energy on distractions is the last thing that state government should be doing. And I can not be the cause of that.

New York tough means New York loving, and I love New York, and I love you. And everything I have ever done has been motivated by that love. And I would never want to be unhelpful in any way. And I think that given the circumstances, 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. Because as we say, “It’s not about me. It’s about we.”

Kathy Hochul, my lieutenant governor, is smart and competent. This transition must be seamless. We have a lot going on. I’m very worried about the Delta variant, and so should you be. But she can come up to speed quickly. And my resignation will be effective in 14 days.

To my team: Melissa DeRosa, Robert Mujica, Beth Garvey, Stephanie Benton, Dana Carotenuto, Kelly Cummings, Rich Azzopardi, Howard Zucker, Rick Cotton, Janno Lieber, Jack Davies and the hundreds of dedicated administration officials. I want to say this: Thank you. Thank you. And be proud. We made New York state the progressive capital of the nation. No other state government accomplished more to help people. And that is what it’s all about.

Just think about what we did. We passed marriage equality, creating a new civil right. Legalized love for the L.G.B.T.Q. community and we generated a force for change that swept the nation. We passed the SAFE Act years ago, the smartest gun safety law in the United States of America, and it banned the madness of assault weapons. We’ve saved countless lives with that law. Fifteen dollar minimum wage, the highest minimum wage in the nation, lifting millions of families’ standard of living, putting more food on the table and clothes on their backs. And we led the nation in economic justice with that reform. We have managed every emergency mother nature could throw at us: fires, floods, hurricanes, super storms and pandemics.

We balanced the state budget and we got it done on time, more than any other administration because government should work and perform. Free college tuition for struggling families. Nobody in the state will be denied their college dreams because of their income. We have built new airports, rail, transit, roads, all across this state, faster and better than ever before, and more than any state in the nation. The most effective green economy program in the nation. We did more for Black and Latino families than any other administration. We did more for working families. We did more for our union brothers and sisters. We did more to battle racism and anti-Semitism.

Today so much of the politics is just noise, just static, and that’s why people tune it out. What matters is actually improving people’s lives, and that’s what you did. You made this state a better state for the generations that follow, and that is undeniable, inarguable and true, even in these ugly, crazy times.

I thank Speaker Carl Heastie and Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for their leadership. And let me say this on a personal note. In many ways, I see the world through the eyes of my daughters, Cara, Mariah and Michaela. They are 26 and 26, twins, and 23. And I have lived this experience with and through them. I have sat on the couch with them, hearing the ugly accusations for weeks. I’ve seen the look in their eyes, and the expression on their faces, and it hurt. I want my three jewels to know this. My greatest goal is for them to have a better future than the generations of women before them.

It is still in many ways a man’s world. It always has been. We have sexism that is culturalized and institutionalized. My daughters have more talent and natural gifts than I ever had. I want to make sure that society allows them to fly as high as their wings will carry them. There should be no assumptions, no stereotypes, no limitations. I want them to know from the bottom of my heart that I never did and I never would intentionally disrespect a woman or treat any woman differently than I would want them treated. And that is the God’s honest truth. Your dad made mistakes, and he apologized, and he learned from it. And that’s what life is all about.

And I know the political process is flawed. And I understand their cynicism and distrust and disappointment now. But don’t give it up. Because government is still the best vehicle for making positive social change.

Lastly, I want to remind all New Yorkers of an important lesson and one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and that’s what you New Yorkers did in battling Covid. The enemy landed in New York State. Covid launched the attack here. It came on planes from Europe, and we had no idea. It was an ambush. And it was up to New Yorkers to fight back. We were on our own, and it was war.

Nurses, doctors, essential workers became our front line heroes. Hospitals became the battlegrounds. Streets were still, and sirens filled the city’s silence. Trailers carried the bodies of our fallen brothers and sisters. But you refused to give up, and you fought back, and you won, going from the highest infection rate in the nation to one of the lowest. No one thought we could do it. But you did it. You led the nation, and you showed the way forward. And how you did it is what’s most important. You did it together, not as Black New Yorkers or white New Yorkers, not as L.G.B.T.Q. New Yorkers or straight New Yorkers, or Democrats or Republicans, or upstate or downtstate, or Jewish, Muslim, Protestant or Catholic New Yorkers, but as one community, one family, the family of New York. You overcame the naysayers and the haters and the fear and the division. And you unified, and you rose and you overcame.

And you saved lives. And that was powerful in its effect. It was beautiful to see. And it was an honor to lead. Please remember that lesson. Hold it dear and hold it up high for this nation to see because it is New York State at her finest, creating her legacy, fulfilling her destiny, giving life an animation to the lady in the harbor, saying “excelsior we can be better. We can reach higher.” And proclaiming, E Pluribus Unum. Out of many one. unity, community, love. That is our founding premise, and our enduring promise. And that is the salvation of this nation that it so desperately needs to hear. Thank you for the honor of serving you. It has been the honor of my lifetime. God bless you.  

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