New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stepped down on Tuesday.
Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday said he will resign after a scathing report from the state attorney general’s office alleged that he sexually harassed nearly a dozen women from 2013 to 2020.

Multiple Democratic leaders, including President Joe Biden, have called for Cuomo to resign since the report was released last week. He was also facing a possible impeachment by the New York state Assembly.

“I think that given the circumstances the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to government,” said Cuomo. “Therefore that is what I’ll do, because I work for you, and doing the right thing, is doing the right thing for you.”

Cuomo, who has insisted he’s done nothing wrong, said he’ll leave office in 14 days. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will take over the rest of his term, becoming the first woman to be governor of New York.

Cuomo’s press briefing on Tuesday announcing his resignation was in stark contrast to the regular briefings he gave a year ago during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuomo was praised by many for his efforts as New York was hit hard by the virus, though that reputation was tarnished some earlier this year after his administration was accused of significantly underreporting COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.

After a nearly five month investigation, New York Attorney General Letitia James on Aug. 3 released a report accusing Cuomo of sexually harassing 11 women, including current and former state employees. Cuomo engaged in unwanted “groping, kissing, and hugging, and making inappropriate comments,” according to James, and allegedly retaliated against one former employee who came forward about the harassment.