This picture constructed from video supplied by the New York Governor’s Workplace reveals New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo giving a farewell speech, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021 in New York.
The New York Governor’s Workplace | AP
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday mentioned he believes his successor, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, will “step as much as the problem” simply hours earlier than he was set to step down from his job of 10 years amid a sexual harassment scandal.
“All of us want her success,” Cuomo mentioned of Hochul on the finish of a farewell speech, during which he additionally decried the politicization of the quite a few harassment claims in opposition to him and touted his administration’s accomplishments and dealing with of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The reality will [come] out in time, of that I’m assured,” Cuomo mentioned, talking on to digicam within the roughly 15-minute video tackle.
Hochul, who will probably be 63 later this week can be a Democrat, will change into the state’s first feminine governor after a non-public swearing-in ceremony after midnight Tuesday, The Related Press reported.
The speech got here after a Cuomo aide advised media shops that the embattled governor “has no real interest in operating for workplace once more.”
“You realize me. I’m a fighter, and my intuition is to struggle this as a result of it’s unfair and unjust in my thoughts,” Cuomo mentioned. “However you additionally know that I like New York, and I serve you … and on this second, I imagine the suitable factor is that my service come first.”
“Prolonging the state of affairs might solely trigger governmental paralysis,” he mentioned.
Cuomo, 63, made the surprising announcement of his resignation two weeks earlier, after vigorously defending himself in opposition to quite a few allegations of sexual harassment compiled in a damning report from the workplace of New York Legal professional Basic Letitia James.
Cuomo had initially appeared poised to attempt to cling to his title after the damning report got here out, at the same time as a lot of his political allies, together with President Joe Biden, referred to as on him to step down. However in mid-August, Cuomo mentioned that, “given the circumstances, one of the best ways I can assist now could be if I step apart and let authorities get again to authorities.”
His departure is not going to cease an impeachment investigation launched by New York state lawmakers, who restarted their probe days after being closely criticized for deciding to droop it following Cuomo’s resignation announcement.
New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul speaks throughout a information convention the day after Governor Andrew Cuomo introduced his resignation on the New York State Capitol, in Albany, New York, August 11, 2021.
Cindy Schultz | Reuters
A minimum of 5 district lawyer’s workplaces across the state have additionally begun probes of potential crimes by Cuomo in opposition to a few of his accusers. A staffer for Cuomo has filed a felony grievance in opposition to him, the Albany County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned earlier this month.
“Between [his time as Housing and Urban Development secretary], [New York attorney general and] Governor, Andrew Cuomo has spent practically 25 years in public service. And the best way he does it, it is 24 hours a day, 7 days per week,” Cuomo’s shut aide, Melissa DeRosa, mentioned in an announcement to NBC Information.
“He seems to be ahead to spending time together with his household and has a whole lot of fishing to atone for. He’s exploring plenty of choices, however has no real interest in operating for workplace once more,” DeRosa’s assertion mentioned.
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