Stephen Colbert celebrates Andrew Cuomo’s resignation: ‘Evidently, he gave himself two weeks’ notice’
New York governor has stepped back in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal
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Your support makes all the difference.Stephen Colbert has celebrated the resignation of the New York governor, Andrew Cuomo.
During Tuesday’s (10 August) episode of The Late Show, Colbert said he was happy for two reasons: the sun was shining in New York, and in the afternoon, Cuomo announced he was standing down in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal.
“Don’t let the door hit you on the butt on the way out,” Colbert said. “But if it does, that door should also resign.”
Colbert said his only problem with the resignation is that it won’t take effect for 14 more days. “Evidently, he gave himself two weeks’ notice,” the late night host joked.
Colbert then roasted Cuomo for comments he had made at a press conference earlier in the day about the accusations of sexual harassment against him.
“In my mind, I’ve never crossed the line with anyone,” Cuomo had said. “But I didn’t realise the extent to which the line has been redrawn.”
Colbert quipped: “I don’t know exactly what line he’s talking about, but hopefully he’ll explain it in his new book, Andrew and the Purple Crayon.”
The host expressed satisfaction that Cuomo will be replaced by Kathy Hochul, who will become New York’s first female governor.
“Hochul will be taking the seat vacated by Cuomo,” said Colbert, “hopefully after putting a towel down first.”
Cuomo, who has denied the findings of a 168-page report on sexual harassment, was accused of behaving inappropriately towards 11 women – nine of whom were employees – following an investigation carried out by New York’s attorney general.
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Two more women allegedly came forward with allegations of their own on Monday (9 August), but according to The New York Post, were told that the investigation into Cuomo was closed. A source told the publication that the two women, who were unidentified, “were referred to local law enforcement authorities”. It was also unclear what their allegations were.
At yesterday’s press conference, Cuomo continued to deny many of the accusations of unwanted physical contact with women, before explaining that the situation had consumed the state’s attention while officials battled a resurgence of Covid-19.
“Wasting energy on distractions is the last thing that state government should be doing, and I cannot be the cause of that,” said Cuomo.
“The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing,” the governor continued. “It’s not about ‘me’, it’s about ‘we’.”
“Thank you for the honour of serving you,” Cuomo told New Yorkers as he concluded his morning address without taking questions. “It has been the honour of my lifetime.”