Public Employee Press: PEP Talk
Cuomo out, Hochul in as Governor
By MIKE LEE
After an extensive investigation into sexual harassment claims against Governor Andrew Cuomo and a scathing 165-page report by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, the state’s top leader resigned on Aug. 24.
Cuomo was under fire on a wider array of issues than sexual harassment, but the credible allegations by 11 women, including state employees and some on Cuomo’s own staff, created a firestorm of calls for him to resign, including from DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido.
“Safety and security must be the standard of every workplace. The details made public as part of the Attorney General’s investigation made it clear that this was not the case in the Governor’s office,” Garrido said. “We cannot turn a blind eye to the harassment perpetuated by the Governor. It is evident he was no longer fit to serve, which is why I called for his immediate resignation.”
Although denying the more serious allegations, Cuomo said fighting would cause political chaos in the state and turn into a costly battle. It had also become apparent that the State Assembly would likely vote to impeach him on the basis of the Attorney General’s report. Upon his resignation, former Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul made history by becoming the first female governor of New York.
Hochul, a former member of the U.S. Congress from Buffalo, was known as a moderate Democrat while serving in Washington, but has become more progressive on several issues such as gun control.
Cuomo is the son of the late Gov. Mario Cuomo and was elected in 2010. He is the second New York governor to resign due to sexual improprieties, the first being Eliot Spitzer in 2008.
