Allegedly Involved In Sexual Harassment, Governor Andrew Cuomo Resigns

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo/ Instagram

JAKARTA - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation from his post on Tuesday, August 11. This is after the results of the investigation stated that he had sexually abused 11 women.

Cuomo resigned amid increasing legal pressure he faces and demands from the President of the United States that he step down from office.

The Democrat, who has served as governor of the fourth most populous US state since 2011, said he was stepping down a week after New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the results of an investigation into Cuomo.

According to a five-month independent investigation, Cuomo had violated federal and state laws.

Delivering a 20-minute televised address, Cuomo, 63, said his resignation would take effect in 14 days.

Despite stepping down as governor, Cuomo insisted that he had done nothing wrong.

However, he said, he accepted the fact that he was "fully responsible" for his inappropriate actions when he wanted to show that he was a warm and humorous person.

He concluded that fighting the charges while remaining in office would cripple state governments, as well as cost taxpayers millions of dollars at a time when the coronavirus pandemic remains a major threat.

"I think, given the situation, the best I can do at this point is to step aside and let the government do its job -- and so that's what I'm going to do," Cuomo said.

By stepping down, Cuomo avoided being fired through impeachment procedures in the state legislature.

Cuomo looks very likely to be impeached because so many members of the Democrat-controlled legislature have started to leave him.

According to the 168-page investigative report, Cuomo has groped, kissed, or made "leading" comments towards a number of women.

Among the women reported to have experienced Cuomo's actions are current and former employees - one of whom is a member of the state police.

The report also said that Cuomo had fought allegations by at least one woman that he sexually assaulted her.

Cuomo's resignation is the culmination of the downfall of one of America's leading politicians.

With the latest developments, Cuomo's long-standing political career is derailed. He was once seen eyeing the possibility of competing in the presidential election.

Cuomo is the latest New York politician to be forced to step down when he is suspected of being involved in a scandal.

Previously, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned in 2008 for protecting sex workers.

The governor who replaced Spitzer, David Paterson, in 2010 canceled his campaign for re-election. He was facing charges of threatening witnesses and committing several other offences.

US House of Representatives member Anthony Weiner resigned in 2011 in a sexual texting scandal.

In 2018, New York Attorney General Eric Schnedierman resigned after four women accused him of harassment.

Cuomo has also become the next highly influential man to fall from power in recent years following the emergence of #MeToo, the community movement against sexual harassment and violence.

#MeToo has shaken up the worlds of politics, Hollywood, business and corporations.

Cuomo's former aide, Lindsay Boylan, was the first woman to publicly make accusations against Cuomo in December last year.

At the time, Boylan said on Twitter that Cuomo was still being "rude" by carrying out attacks on his victims.

"My hope is that other women will find it safer to report sexual harassment and abuse," she wrote.

Cuomo had for months denied allegations of sexual harassment and he again issued a denial after the investigative report was issued.

However, political support for him collapsed after the results of the investigation emerged into the public sphere.

Hours later, Joe Biden, an old friend, said he thought Cuomo should step down.

"I respect the governor's decision," Biden told reporters Tuesday at the White House.

Cuomo has been elected governor three times -- each term lasting four years, as has his father, Mario Cuomo.

Like his father, Andrew Cuomo never ran for president despite speculation that he might have such ambitions.

Cuomo at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year won praise -- considered a national leader -- after he held daily press conferences as the state he led became the epicenter of the public health crisis in the United States.