New York Governor to Resign after Probe Finds He Sexually Harassed Multiple Women

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced he will resign from office following a scathing report from the state's attorney general concluding that the third-term Democrat sexually harassed 11 women, and in one instance, sought to retaliate against one of his accusers who went public with her allegations.

"Wasting energy on distractions is the last thing that state government should be doing, and I cannot be the cause of that," Cuomo, 63, said in remarks from the capital of Albany on Tuesday.

"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," he added.

His Lt. Governor, Kathy Hochul, will be next in line and will be the state's first female governor.

"This transition must be seamless," Cuomo said, calling Hochul smart and competent. "She can come up to speed quickly."

Hochul, who served one term in Congress before being tapped by Cuomo to be his running mate in 2014, said in a statement she agreed with the governor's decision to step down.