New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns amid sexual harassment scandal

Politico

Cuomo announced he will step down in 14 days, with Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul replacing him as New York's first female governor. His resignation comes a week after New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that an independent investigation found that Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women. It's been a swift fall for Cuomo, who nine months ago received a special International Emmy for his widely acclaimed daily televised COVID updates during the early months of the pandemic. “Given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let the government get back to government,” Cuomo said in a video statement lasting about 21 minutes. “Therefore that's what I'll do, because I work for you, and doing the right thing, is doing the right thing for you. Because, as we say, ‘it's not about me, it's about we.’” Cuomo's scandal has also enmeshed his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who has come under fire for advising the governor in his battle against sexual harassment allegations.

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• Andrew Cuomo used television in "Trumpian ways": "The so-called 'Cuomosexual' movement, epitomized by a fawning video made by the entertainer Randy Rainbow, placed emphasis on Cuomo not merely as a leader trying to share information but as a unique talent, someone who, alone, could fix it," says Daniel D'Addario. "And Cuomo’s jokey, goofy broadcasts with his brother Chris (a CNN anchor who, in what would be a firing offense in any other segment of the media industry, also advised his brother on the sexual harassment inquiry behind the scenes) was embraced in a certain cohort. It seemed proof of an idol’s frank humanity, rather than an obvious attempt to use the media to dictate how Cuomo would like to be seen (lovable) and how often (all the time). In other words, Cuomo, a spotlight-craving politician with an ability to hold viewer attention as he spoke discursively, was the establishment left’s answer to the figure they most hated: Donald Trump. Both men’s political agendas seemed centered around the idea of themselves as savior being more centrally important than the people that they saved; both men burnished that image on camera. Why, viewers might wonder, are we hearing jokes about Cuomo family dinners on CNN, the place where the news was supposed to go? Is his constant sniping at New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio over jurisdiction of even the smallest aspects of COVID relief meant to help anyone, or simply to ensure the viewing public knows who’s in charge? Why is the governor on television showing off art he made to symbolize how special and genius his particular response has been — and why isn’t anyone in a position of real authority taking the cue to dial back the hagiography?"