#MeToo: NY Governor Andrew Cuomo Resigns After Probe Finds Sexual Harassment

Cuomo's successor would be Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who will be the first woman to assume the post.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo groped, kissed or made suggestive remarks to 11 women, including employees, the state's attorney general Letitia James said on 3 August.

(Photo: Twitter/@NYGuvCuomo)

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation on Tuesday, 10 August, days after the findings of an independent investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the Democrat were announced.

Cuomo groped, kissed or made suggestive remarks to 11 women, including employees, the state's attorney general Letitia James had said last week, as she announced the findings of the probe into allegations against the Democrat.

James had said, "The independent investigation has concluded that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and in doing so, violated federal and state law," news agency AFP reported.

Cuomo's resignation will be effective in 14 days and his successor would be Lieutenant Governor and Democrat Kathy Hochul, who will be the first woman to assume the post, The New York Times reported.

"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."

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, as quoted by NYT

At the time when the findings of the investigation were revealed, US President Joe Biden had also said, "I think he should resign."

Who is Andrew Cuomo?

Andrew Cuomo assumed office as the 56th Governor of New York in 2011. He was re-elected to the post in 2018. His father, Mario Cuomo, had also held the position of the governor for three terms.

He graduated from Fordham University in the Bronx in 1979 and received his law degree from Albany Law School in 1982.

Cuomo has served as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Community Planning and Development from 1993 to 1997. From 1997 to 2001, he served as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in former President Bill Clinton's Cabinet.

Cuomo has also served as Attorney General of New York.

Who is Kathy Hochul, Cuomo's Successor?

Democrat leader Kathy Hochul is set to succeed Cuomo as the 57th Governor of New York. She will become the first-ever female governor of the city.

Hochul had hitherto been serving as the Lieutenant Governor of New York, since 2015.

A graduate in law, Hochul has served as legal counsel and legislative assistant to US representative John LaFace and US Senator Daniel Moynihan.

Hochul also served as the county clerk of Erie country in New York from 2007 to 2011, after serving as deputy country clerk from 2003 to 2007.

(With inputs from New York Times and AFP)