New York lawmakers celebrated Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s stunning resignation Tuesday amid a sexual harassment scandal that was leading to his all-but-certain impeachment.
An Assembly hearing on rent relief in Manhattan erupted in applause when someone shouted out, “The governor resigned!” following his televised announcement.
Attorney General Letitia James, whose devastating Aug. 3 report led Cuomo to throw in the towel, also welcomed his decision.
“Today closes a sad chapter for all of New York, but it’s an important step towards justice,” she said in a prepared statement.
“I thank Governor Cuomo for his contributions to our state. The ascension of our Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul, will help New York enter a new day.”
James added: “We must continue to build on the progress already made and improve the lives of New Yorkers in every corner of the state. I know our state is in good hands with Lieutenant Governor Hochul at the helm, and I look forward to continuing to work with her.”
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-The Bronx) said he had spoken to Hochul and added: “I look forward to working with her.”
“This has been a tragic chapter in our state’s history. Governor Cuomo’s resignation is the right decision,” Heastie said in a prepared statement.
“The brave women who stepped forward were heard. Everyone deserves to work in a harassment free environment.”
On Monday, Heastie had said the Assembly’s Judiciary Committee would wrap up an impeachment investigation “with all due haste,” adding: “No one should have to endure the type of behavior detailed in the attorney general’s report.”
Outside the Assembly hearing, Assemblyman Mike Lawler (R-Rockland County) said of Cuomo’s resignation:”Long overdue.”
“The governor has had an 11-year reign of terror on New Yorkers with one of the most corrupt administrations,” he said.
“You had 11 brave women come forward. It was inappropriate, it was predatory sexual behavior.”
Lawler added: “I’m glad to see he finally did the right thing and showed a modicum of decency before we impeached him.”
Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas (D-Queens) also called Cuomo’s move “long overdue.”
“I’m grateful for all the women who have come forward,” she said.
“I look forward to working with [Lt. Gov.] Kathy Hochul. We must pass sexual harassment and assault legislation.”
Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson (D-Queens) said, “It’s definitely a great sigh of relief as it relates to just being able to move forward as a state.
“We need a leader that can be effective,” he said.
Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan), who was chairing the meeting, said Cuomo’s departure was “for some, not soon enough.”
State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D-The Bronx), a survivor of sexual assault who has been outspoken in her criticism of Cuomo since the scandal broke, the three-term Democrat “has finally put New Yorkers first.”
“I am forever grateful for the eleven women who risked everything to speak out about their experience of sexual misconduct. New York will be a better and safer place because of them,” Biaggi said in a prepared statement.
“While further accountability is necessary, this moment reflects the hard work of survivors who have been striving for an end to workplace harassment for decades.”
State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R-Lockport) said, “Today marks one small step toward restoring honor, decency, and accountability to New York State government.”
“Over the past year, Andrew Cuomo’s credibility completely fell apart. Now, following his overdue resignation, it will never be repaired,” he said in a statement.
“Andrew Cuomo broke the law, lied about it, and shamelessly smeared the women who came forward. His resignation is welcome, but it stops short of the justice his victims and the people of New York deserve.”
Ortt added: “The FBI, the State Attorney General, and other proper authorities must also be allowed to continue their work investigating all of the possible crimes related to our state’s nursing homes crisis and the Governor’s questionable book deal.”
Former Gov. George Pataki said Cuomo “needed to resign.”
“The process Attorney General James undertook was not unfair but thorough, professional and balanced,” Pataki said in a statement.
The statement from Pataki — who ousted Cuomo’s late father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, in the 1994 election — noted that he’s a “former FULL three term Governor.”
Emmy-winning former “Sex and the City” actress Cynthia Nixon, who challenged Cuomo in the 2018 Democratic primary, re-tweeted a message from that year in which she said there was a “clear pattern of Andrew Cuomo ignoring reports of sexual harassment against his top staff and allies.”
“We knew this about Cuomo years ago. It should’ve never required 11 different women to come forward to finally acknowledge how fundamentally unfit he is for the highest office in NYS,” she tweeted Tuesday.
Nixon added that Cuomo’s resignation “is the start of accountability, but more needs to be done to keep women safe.”
“That means prosecuting Cuomo to the full extent of the law. And it means moving forward with impeachment, to bar him from running for statewide office ever again,” she tweeted.
