The governor of the US state of New York, Andrew Cuomo, announced his resignation amid accusations of harassment.

Cuomo's performance was broadcast on a number of American TV channels.

In his speech, he said that the report prepared by the state attorney's office, which contains information about his inappropriate behavior, contains many inaccuracies.

At the same time, Cuomo said that "the best he can help" given the current circumstances is to leave the post.

He added that the decision to resign will take effect in two weeks.

From that moment until the election of the next head of state, it will be headed by Katie Hawkul, who until today served as Deputy Governor.

She will become the first woman ever to serve as governor of New York.

Cuomo's term expires in December 2022.

Until then, the state will be run by Hawkul in time.

At the same time, Cuomo apologized to all women who may have suffered from his actions, while noting that he did not believe that he had offended or embarrassed anyone.

“In my understanding, I never crossed the line of what was permissible with anyone, but I did not realize how much this line had shifted,” TASS quotes the ex-governor of New York.

Cuomo stressed that he considers the charges against him politically motivated.

On August 3, New York State Attorney General Laetitia James said an investigation revealed that Cuomo sexually harassed his female subordinates.

This information was contained in a 165-page investigation, which referred to the testimony of 11 women who accused Cuomo of harassment.

Even before that, in February 2021, a number of media outlets published information about alleged harassment by Cuomo.

In particular, the newspaper The New York Times cited the statements of the subordinates of the Governor of New York, in which they claimed that the official asked them about their intimate life and made hints, which the interlocutors perceived as an attempt to enter into an intimate relationship.

At the same time, the alleged victim Cuomo said that he told the head of the governor's office about the incident, after which she was transferred to another job.

After that, she did not insist on an investigation into Cuomo, as she was pleased with the new job.

The official himself at the time of the Prosecutor General's speech said that he did not intend to resign and rejected the accusations against him.

Subsequently, the New York State Legislature announced that it was preparing an impeachment procedure for Cuomo.

The statement said that the procedure would begin "without delay" after collecting the necessary information from the prosecutor's office.

Also on russian.rt.com Senators from New York called on his governor to step down

In addition, Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, who represent the state of New York in the upper house of the US Congress, have called on the governor of the state to step down.

Against the background of the publication of this information, US President Joe Biden announced that Cuomo should resign.

"I think he should resign," TASS cites Biden's answer to the relevant question.

Commenting on the possibility of starting the impeachment procedure against Cuomo, Biden noted that the state authorities can make an appropriate decision.

At the same time, the President said that he did not know for sure and added that he did not speak with Cuomo that day.

After the resignation of Cuomo, Biden was again asked a question about this.

The head of the White House replied that he "respects the governor's decision."

  • US President Joe Biden

  • Reuters

  • © Evelyn Hockstein

It also became known that criminal charges could be brought against Cuomo.

The reason for this was a statement from one of the alleged victims of the ex-governor of New York.

This is one of 11 women who have filed charges against Cuomo.

She spoke for an interview on CBS in which she stated that the official harassed her in 2019 and 2020.

In one case, the woman said, Cuomo "climbed over her blouse."

Cuomo's assistant Melissa Deroza resigned amid the scandal.

In a statement on this matter, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work for the good of the state for 10 years, while noting that the past two years have been "difficult emotionally and psychologically" for her.

The American media suggested that after her, other representatives of the New York state administration might also report on the resignation.