Andrew Cuomo is resigning, setting up Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul to become the state’s first female governor. Cuomo still denies doing anything wrong.
Summary
Embattled and disgraced New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his intent to resign on Tuesday after the state Attorney General’s allegations he harassed or assaulted eleven women.
- Cuomo, whose resignation will take place in two weeks, denied wrongdoing but argued “fighting the accusations while remaining in office would paralyze state government”, prompting him to resign.
- Cuomo was also facing investigations over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and allegations his administration “intentionally undercounted the number of deaths in nursing homes” during the height of the pandemic.
- Experts and leaders in Albany are not closing the book on the Cuomo era, saying investigations will continue after his resignation, and have not taken impeachment off the table.
- The empire state’s Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to become the state’s first female governor.
- CNN’s analysis of the development suggested Cuomo’s willingness to give up power was uncharacteristic for someone with such hubris and political ambition.
- The New York Times’ report on the tact and tone of Cuomo’s speech said it was Cuomo’s effort to “define his legacy” and redeem it “in the eyes of New Yorkers.”
- Huffington Post focused on Cuomo’s self-defense, saying he had no intention of harassing anyone, but that gestures and words some “found [it] to be too forward” were meant to be friendly.
- Newsmax highlighted President Biden’s press conference on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which just passed the Senate, in which Biden said Cuomo has “done a hell of a job” for New York as governor in response to a question about Cuomo’s resignation.
- Actor Alec Baldwin drew the ire of Fox News and liberal Twitter for equating the Cuomo episode with “party politics” engaging in “cancel culture.” The New York Post framed Cuomo’s resignation as just one of many “scandal-scarred New York politicians” forced to resign.
Author’s Take
Good riddance to this creep.
© Dallas Gerber, 2021