New York Governor Andrew Cuomo knew that politically he could no longer count on anyone - not even on his own party. In the past few days, photographers had taken pictures of the Democrat walking his dog, and the right-wing tabloid “New York Post” had rejoiced that Cuomo was spending the day with “the only friend” he was probably left with. Eleven women have accused the head of government since February of sexually molesting them - and when an investigation by Attorney General Letitia James confirmed the allegations last week, President Joe Biden also called for his fellow party member to resign.

On Tuesday, Cuomo took the long-awaited move.

He started his press conference with a curt greeting and a small, almost defiant smile.

Then he repeated what he had always protested since the beginning of the year: his behavior had been nothing but warm and friendly.

Cuomo pushed the unsolicited touching of employees and other women to “cultural differences”, differences between the generations and supposedly changing norms in dealing with other people.

"Toxic" working atmosphere

According to some observers, this also means the Italian-American origins of the governor - Cuomo withdrew from the fact that he hugged and kissed people more often. He had done that all his life and simply did not take sufficient note of the “cultural changes” - “what I should have done, no excuses,” said the 63-year-old. The demands for his resignation were "politically motivated" and "demonized" his behavior in an inadmissible way, said Cuomo.

Attorney General James had submitted her report a week ago. She had investigated allegations of sexual harassment against him on behalf of the governor. James concluded from nearly two hundred interviews with witnesses that the allegations made by eleven women were credible. Accordingly, Cuomo is said to have sexually molested employees and other women. A “toxic” working atmosphere prevailed in Cuomo's staff, which was described as particularly hindering for women's professional careers.

President Joe Biden, as well as the Democratic party leaders in New York and Washington had called for the resignation of the governor. The fact that Cuomo is now making his office available is the solution that the president has spoken out in favor of, said spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Tuesday. The White House position was that "brave women" ventured out and told their stories, which were then confirmed by an independent investigation. Biden did not speak to Cuomo and there are no corresponding plans.

Lindsey Boylan, formerly Cuomo's economic policy advisor, was the first to make public allegations against him in February. Between 2016 and 2018, Cuomo touched and kissed her several times without consent. After Boylan spoke to journalists about it, the governor actively sought to discredit them, releasing personal information about them. The most serious allegation comes from another employee who described that Cuomo had unintentionally grabbed under her blouse and on her chest.

The outgoing Prime Minister did not respond to these allegations at his press conference. This is also due to the fact that a criminal investigation is pending against him in the capital Albany. “He resigns without accepting the results of the report (from the attorney general). He doesn't really take responsibility for everything he's done, ”commented Catherine Lucey of the conservative Wall Street Journal.