New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that he will resign his office amid allegations that he sexually harassed 11 women, leaving Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul to become the state’s first female governor.
Hochul has been lieutenant governor since 2015, will take over the office in two weeks when Cuomo said his resignation will be effective.
>> New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns effective in 14 days
Hochul called Cuomo’s behavior “repulsive & unlawful” in reference to the state’s attorney general’s findings in the sexual harassment investigation against Cuomo.
Sexual harassment is unacceptable in any workplace, and certainly not in public service.
— Kathy Hochul (@LtGovHochulNY) August 3, 2021
The AG’s investigation has documented repulsive & unlawful behavior by the Governor towards multiple women. I believe these brave women & admire their courage coming forward. 1/2
On Tuesday Hochul said, “I agree with Governor Cuomo’s decision to step down. It is the right thing to do.”
She says she is ready to lead as the next governor as Cuomo called for a “seamless” transition for Hochul to step into the office.
Who is Hochul? Here is what we know about her.
· Hochul, 62, was born in Buffalo, New York, the second of six children.
· She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and a law degree from Catholic University Columbus School of Law.
· She worked as a legal counsel and legislative assistant to U.S. Representative John LaFalce and U.S. Senator Daniel Moynihan, and for the New York State Assembly,
· She was appointed by Gov. Elliot Spitzer to the post of Erie County Clerk, and later elected to the office.
· She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2011 during a special election to fill a vacant seat due to the resignation of Rep. Chris Lee. She lost the 2012 election for that seat.
· She won the election for lieutenant governor twice, in 2014 and 2018.
· Hochul chaired 10 regional economic development councils and the Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Abuse and Addiction.
· She also chaired the governor’s “Enough is Enough” campaign to combat sexual assault on college campuses.
· In 2018, Hochul supported legislation to provide driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.
· She advocated for the removal of highway tolls on the New York State Thruway near Buffalo.
· Hochul is married to William J. Hochul Jr., a former United States attorney for the Western District of New York. They have two children: William III, a first-year law student at the University of Notre Dame, and Caitlin, who this month graduated from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va.
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