This is about politics: Andrew Cuomo continues to defend himself after resigning

After announcing his resignation as the New York Governor on Tuesday, Andrew Cuomo said that he would continue to defend himself from what he called “unfair” and “untruthful” sexual harassment allegations.  

“It’s not about the truth. It’s not about thoughtful analysis. It’s not about how do we make the system better. This is about politics,” said Cuomo, arguing that the current uproar surrounding the serious allegations is not driven by truth but by politics.  

The 63-year-old’s decision comes at the backdrop of the investigation conducted by New York’s attorney general office. The probe found that Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women in his tenure as a governor.

“I think that given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing,” the New Yorker said, as he continued to imply that his resignation did not come because he felt he was guilty but out of his love for the state and its people, according to the Associated Press reports.

Independent investigators appointed by James — led by Joon H Kim and Anne L Clark — released their report into the multiple allegations of sexual harassment by Cuomo on Tuesday.

Officials who had conducted the probe said the Democrat subjected women to unwanted kisses, groped their breasts or buttocks or otherwise touched them inappropriately.

The investigation also found that Cuomo made insinuating remarks about their looks and their sex lives and created a work environment rife with fear and intimidation, reported AP.

But Cuomo has repeatedly denied the allegations and continued to do so on Tuesday. He said: “I am a fighter, and my instinct is to fight through this controversy because I truly believe it is politically motivated. I believe it is unfair and it is untruthful.”

Meanwhile, Kathy Hochul will become the state’s first female governor once Cuomo’s resignation is effective in two weeks.

Talking about her successor, Cuomo said, “Kathy Hochul, my lieutenant governor, is smart and competent. This transition must be seamless. We have a lot going on. I’m very worried about the Delta variant and so should you be. But she can come up to speed quickly”

Earlier in the day, a top aide to the New York governor also resigned amid the sexual harassment controversy.

Melissa DeRosa, who had served as secretary to the embattled governor since 2017 and had long been described by New York media as one of his closest confidants of Andrew Cuomo handed over her resignation earlier on Tuesday.