ANDREW CUOMO RESIGNS NEW YORK GOVERNORSHIP

Democrat New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned Tuesday after nearly every prominent member of his own party including President Joe Biden called on him to leave office amid a flood of scandals, including nearly a dozen allegations of sexual harassment, at least one of which is being investigated as a criminal complaint.

In a midday press conference, Cuomo repeated his defense that he did not intend to offend anyone with his behavior before announcing that he would step aside, effective in 14 days.

"New York tough means New York loving, and I love New York, and I love you. And everything I have every done has been motivated by that love. And I would never want to be unhelpful in any way. And 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. And therefore that's what I'll do because I work for you," Cuomo said.

Cuomo's top aide, Melissa DeRosa, resigned late Sunday in the latest defection from the three-term governor's shrinking team. The New York state Assembly is investigating Cuomo's conduct regarding the harassment allegations as well as his handling of thousands of nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Assembly took up the effort shortly after state Attorney General Letitia James released a long-awaited report on Aug 3 detailing many of the allegations of misconduct, including one instance in which Cuomo is accused of groping a former aide at the governor's mansion and allegations he inappropriately touched a female trooper.

Cuomo, 63, has for months maintained a tenuous hold on office as many Democrats, while not supporting the governor, said they wanted to wait until James' investigation had finished and established "the facts." Once the report was out, calls for Cuomo to go were swift and nearly universal.

Cuomo has largely denied the charges leveled against him by a series of women, most of whom were former aides. But he acknowledged during an apologetic press conference in March and in a more defiant early August statement that some of the interactions may not have been perceived as he'd intended them.