Disgraced New York Governor Andrew Cuomo gave a long and winding press conference today, eventually ending with the announcement that he would be resigning.
The press conference was nearly an hour long, starting with a briefing from Cuomo’s attorney, who attacked the report from New York Attorney General Letitia James, which concluded that Cuomo had broken state and federal laws by sexually harassing female employees and creating a hostile work environment.
That attorney, Rita Glavin, spoke at length about the report, claiming it “contains errors and omits key evidence.” Then Cuomo came on to “apologize” for “offending” the eleven women named in the report. He spoke specifically about his encounters with a female state trooper who accused him of making inappropriate sexual comments and touching her inappropriately, going into extensive detail, explaining that he was sorry for making her feel uncomfortable but also going to great lengths to explain why what he did wasn’t that bad.
If your apology includes a play by play of why your actions weren’t actually bad, go right ahead and pic.twitter.com/y3ezF4Pli1
— Caroline Darya Framke (@carolineframke) August 10, 2021
After that, he opined about how the investigation into him is politically motivated, the political discourse has become too “hot,” and how Twitter has ruined everything.
After all of that, he said he was resigning.
fuckin three-act structure to this resignation my god
— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) August 10, 2021
The system is rigged. I never did any of this. The people accusing me are liars and cheats and have it in for me. I am a fighter. Also I resign.
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) August 10, 2021
Cuomo insisted that he never crossed a line with any women, something at least 11 women have gone on record to disagree with. Cuomo did, however, say he didn’t realize “the extent to which the line has been redrawn.” The behavior described in the AG’s report involves kissing, groping, and making sexually suggestive comments to female employees and other women. Those things have always been on the far side of the “line” and claiming otherwise is as disingenuous and manipulative as you might expect from a man who then launched into an extended “father of daughters” prattling.
Why couldn’t we just let the GOVERNOR who did SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE and also HAS DAUGHTERS HELLO just touch WHOEVER HE WANTED??? WHY??? pic.twitter.com/Vy0gFauVdd
— Kate Erbland (@katerbland) August 10, 2021
While he maintained that he hasn’t done anything worth resigning over, he says he wants to avoid the extended political circus that would come with impeachment proceedings. He insists that his resignation is the best thing he can do for the people of New York, which is something Cuomo and I actually agree on.
Honestly they should still impeach Cuomo if they can before his 2 weeks are up
— Edward Ongweso Jr (@bigblackjacobin) August 10, 2021
Cuomo’s resignation takes effect in two weeks, at which point, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will step in, becoming the state’s first female governor.
New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will become New York’s first female governor in 14 days. https://t.co/tRLsT7V79H
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 10, 2021
When James released her report, Hochul called Cuomo’s behavior “repulsive” and “unlawful” but given her position as his potential successor, she declined to speak further about whether or not she thought he should resign.
(image: screencap)
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