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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has resigned, bringing an finish to a 40-year political profession that made him a pandemic hero however is now in wreck because of a damning report by Lawyer Basic Letitia James which labeled him a serial sexual harasser.
Talking at a press convention on Tuesday morning in New York Metropolis, Cuomo insisted he’s harmless and has by no means groped anybody, however is stepping apart within the curiosity of the individuals so authorities can concentrate on COVID.
He’ll changed by Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul in two weeks.
Earlier than resigning, Cuomo gave a 20 minute speech the place he apologized to a state trooper who says he routinely touched her inappropriately.
He additionally recommended #MeToo had gone too far and that he ‘did not perceive the extent to which the road has been redrawn.’
On the finish of his speech, he addressed his three grownup daughters and stated: ‘Your dad made errors and he apologized and he discovered from it. That is what life is all about.’
He additionally credited New Yorkers for a way they fought COVID, giving an emotional eulogy to town’s ‘fallen brothers and sisters’ and the way sirens ‘crammed town’s silence’ after ‘the enemy landed’.
Cuomo had been going through impeachment by the New York State Meeting – a course of that will have taken months and, he stated, value hundreds of thousands in treasured tax payer {dollars}.
The Judiciary Committee investigating him wasn’t simply trying on the sexual harassment claims, but in addition his dealing with of nursing dwelling deaths in COVID-19, whether or not he used state sources write and promote his e book, or if he gave his household early entry to COVID-19 exams once they have been arduous to come back by.
The sexual harassment allegations started final December with the tweets of Lindsey Boylan, a former staffer who says he made inappropriate remarks to her.
Essentially the most critical allegation is that of Brittany Commisso, who says he groped her breast within the Govt Mansion in November 2020.
Cuomo denies her declare however he admitted making inappropriate feedback to among the girls, saying it is his approach of talking to individuals.
On Tuesday he particularly apologized to the state trooper who says he ‘touched her stomach’ and ran his finger down her again and stated if he did ever contact her, it was his approach of thanking her for her service.
Cuomo spoke from New York Metropolis. He has been hiding out in Albany since final week, when the Lawyer Basic’s report was launched
‘The report stated I sexually harassed 11 girls, the response was outrage. It ought to have been. Nonetheless it was additionally false. My legal professionals have reviewed the report and raised critical points and flaws that ought to concern all New Yorkers.
‘When there’s a lack of equity it’s a concern for everybody. Essentially the most critical allegations made in opposition to me haven’t any credible factual foundation. There’s a distinction between alleged improper conduct and concluding sexual misconduct. This isn’t to say there are usually not 11 girls who I really offended.
‘There are and for that I deeply, deeply apologize.’
He went on to counsel that #MeToo has gone too far and that he did not perceive what would now be thought-about inappropriate.
‘In my thoughts, I’ve by no means crossed the road with anybody however I did not notice the extent to which the road has been redrawn.
‘There are generational and cultural shifts that I simply did not absolutely admire. And I ought to have. No excuses,’ he stated.
Earlier on Tuesday, Cuomo’s legal professional Rita Glavin gave a press convention the place she once more tried to undermine the ladies’s allegations and say James’ investigation was biased.
Glavin used a slideshow that was much like the kind Cuomo makes use of to provide COVID-19 updates to chip away on the girls’s claims.
She requested why solely 41 of the 179 witness interviews within the report have been transcribed and made public, and stated the AG ignored ‘favorable proof that didn’t assist the narrative’.
One of the crucial problematic claims, she stated, was that of the physician who gave Cuomo his COVID-19 check final March on digital camera at one in every of his press conferences.
He advised her “you make that robe look good”, referring to her PPE.
‘The Governor made a joke to the physician within the hospital robe. Protected in opposition to COVID whereas she gave him a check.
‘He stated in entrance of the entire world, “you make that robe look good.” That is not sexual harassment. I do not know why that was included within the report besides so as to add one other quantity and make the governor look unhealthy,’ Glavin stated.
She added that investigators didn’t interview key witnesses who may have contested the ladies’s allegations and that it was a deliberate try and oust him.
‘I do not imply to remove from how this girl felt however we do have to assume qualitatively about what these girls say.’
She pointed to a selfie that Brittany Commisso took with Cuomo, after he allegedly ‘rubbed her butt’ and stated that it doesn’t present her trying uncomfortable.
‘For me as a lawyer, as a former prosecutor, I usually use photos as reveals at trial. The Governor didn’t violate Brittany Commisso, he didn’t rub her rear finish earlier than this picture.
‘I feel this image demonstrates the consolation stage of somebody who wished a selfie with the Governor.
‘She despatched this to her good friend, and there’s a footnote, her good friend stated: “I am so jealous.”
‘Males must also be believed and handled pretty. All individuals ought to be on condition that and everyone ought to have an opportunity to reply.
‘All people ought to be scrutinized by info and context. That hasn’t occurred right here.
‘Our nation has a rule of legislation. I consider within the rule of legislation. Not mob mentality and never media mentality.
‘The Governor deserves to be handled pretty and that didn’t occur right here,’ Glavin stated.
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