Cuomo successor Hochul says it won't be hard for her to end New York's 'legacy of sleaze'

New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who will soon take over for outgoing Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday's edition of State of the Union that it won't be hard for her to end — as Tapper phrased it — New York state politics' "legacy of sleaze."
Cuomo is embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal and announced last week, after months of refusing, that he'll resign following a 14-day transition period, ending his 10-year run in Albany. Hochul is next in line, and is emphasizing her commitment to government ethics. "Everyone who's known my career over 27 years of elected office knows that I have very high ethical standards," she told Tapper. "I will go in there and literally say, 'It's a whole new day.' Zero tolerance. I'm gonna be very firm in my expectations on how my administration conducts themselves."
But Hochul said she also wants young women, particularly, to know that they should feel safe and welcome working in her administration. "I don't think it's gonna take a lot for that tone to change on day one," she said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
The Torridon: a luxury retreat nestled amid Highland splendour
The Week Recommends Deep in Scotland's mountainous northwest, this boutique hotel is a stirring contrast between five-star elegance and rugged natural grandeur
-
'Arise, Sir Goldenballs': David Beckham plays the long game in quest for knighthood
Talking Point Former footballer set to be knighted in King's birthday honours after years of snubs
-
Quiz of The Week: 31 May – 6 June
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
Trump hits Africa, Middle East with new travel ban
Speed Read The travel ban bars visitors from 12 countries and restricts entry from seven
-
Elon Musk slams Trump's 'pork-filled' signature bill
speed read 'Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong,' Musk posted on X
-
Depleted FEMA struggling as hurricane season begins
speed read FEMA has lost a third of its workforce amid DOGE cuts enforced by President Donald Trump
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge