New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo “has no interest in running for office again,” his aide said Monday as the embattled Democratic leader prepared to step down from his job of 10 years amid a sexual harassment scandal.
Cuomo was set to be replaced by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, who will become the state’s first female governor after a private swearing-in ceremony after midnight Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.
The governor on his final full day in office Monday will deliver a farewell address at 12 p.m. ET.
“Yes, my final day is tomorrow — Tuesday morning,” Cuomo said Sunday during a briefing on Tropical Storm Henri.
Cuomo, 63, made the shocking announcement of his resignation two weeks earlier, after vigorously defending himself against numerous allegations of sexual harassment compiled in a damning report from the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Cuomo had initially appeared poised to try to cling to his title after the damning report came out, even as many of his political allies, including President Joe Biden, called on him to step down. But in mid-August, Cuomo said that, “given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to government.”
His departure will not stop an impeachment investigation launched by New York state lawmakers, who restarted their probe days after being heavily criticized for deciding to suspend it following Cuomo’s resignation announcement.
At least five district attorney’s offices around the state have also begun probes of possible crimes by Cuomo against some of his accusers. A staffer for Cuomo has filed a criminal complaint against him, the Albany County sheriff’s office said earlier this month.
“Between [his time as Housing and Urban Development secretary], [New York attorney general and] Governor, Andrew Cuomo has spent nearly 25 years in public service. And the way he does it, it’s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Cuomo’s close aide Melissa DeRosa said in a statement to NBC News.
“He looks forward to spending time with his family and has a lot of fishing to catch up on. He is exploring a number of options, but has no interest in running for office again,” DeRosa’s statement said.
