What led to the resignation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2021?

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned in August 2021 amid mounting pressure over allegations of sexual harassment, which were first made public in late 2020. Multiple women, including current and former state employees, accused Cuomo of unwanted touching, kissing, and inappropriate comments.

The allegations were followed by an investigation by the New York Attorney General's office, which released a report in August 2021 that found Cuomo had sexually harassed at least 11 women and created a hostile work environment. The report was based on interviews with 179 witnesses and the examination of tens of thousands of documents.

Cuomo initially denied the allegations and resisted calls for his resignation, but ultimately announced his resignation in a televised speech on August 10, 2021. In his speech, he apologized to the women who had accused him and acknowledged that his behavior had caused pain and difficulty for others. He also insisted that he had never touched anyone inappropriately or intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

The resignation of Cuomo ended his tenure as governor, which began in 2011 and made him one of the most prominent political figures in the country. He was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul.

Andrew Cuomo resigned as Governor of New York in August 2021, after an investigation by the New York State Attorney General's Office found that he had sexually harassed 11 women. The investigation, which was conducted by former federal judge Barbara Underwood, found that Cuomo had made unwanted sexual advances towards the women, including touching them inappropriately and making inappropriate comments. Cuomo denied the allegations, but he said that he would resign in order to "let government get back to governing."

The allegations against Cuomo came to light in December 2020, when a former aide accused him of groping her during a private meeting in his office. Cuomo denied the allegation, but he apologized for making the woman feel uncomfortable. In the months that followed, several other women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo.

The investigation by the Attorney General's Office was launched in March 2021. The report, which was released in August 2021, found that Cuomo's behavior was "deeply troubling" and that he had "engaged in a pattern of inappropriate conduct." The report also found that Cuomo had created a "toxic" work environment for women in his administration.

In the wake of the report, Cuomo faced calls for his resignation from both Democrats and Republicans. He initially resisted calls to step down, but he announced his resignation on August 10, 2021. Cuomo's resignation took effect on August 24, 2021.

Kathy Hochul, who was Cuomo's lieutenant governor, became the first female governor of New York after Cuomo's resignation.