New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he would be stepping down after an investigation found that he did sexually harass women.
“I think that given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing,” Cuomo said in a video.
The investigation found that he had sexually harassed 11 women. He denied the accusations and has several times refused to resign. Even President Joe Biden said he thought that the mayor should step down last week.
“In my mind, I never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn’t realize the extent to which the line is redrawn,” Cuomo said, before apologizing for his behavior.
Cuomo also blamed the press for the scandal.
“This is about politics,” Cuomo said. “And our political system today is too often driven by the extremes. Rashness has replaced reasonableness. Loudness has replaced soundness. Twitter has become the public square for policy debate. There is an intelligent discussion to be had on gender-based actions, on generational and cultural behavior differences, on setting higher standards and finding reasonable resolutions. But the political environment is too hot and too reactionary for that right now.”