Cuomo Resigns Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that he would resign from office in 14 days. The announcement comes one week after a report by the New York attorney general’s office concluded that Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women. The report sparked renewed calls for Cuomo to resign, including from President Joe Biden and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing. Therefore, that’s what I’ll do,” Cuomo said Tuesday, maintaining his stance that his behavior did not amount to sexual harassment. Cuomo will be replaced by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who will become New York’s first female governor.

Coverage was prominent and mostly balanced across the spectrum. However, several outlets published sensationalist headlines; on the left, a HuffPost headline read “Gov’s a Goner: Cuomo Quits” and a Daily Beast headline focused on the governor’s “Lies, Excuses and Insults.” Sensationalist headlines in right-rated outlets included “Grope Gov Is Out” from Fox News and “Creep Cuomo Quits!” from the New York Post.