Cuomo declares 'the truth' will come out 'in time' in farewell address on last day in office


New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) delivered a defiant farewell address before leaving office following a series of sexual harassment allegations, decrying the "unfair" situation that led to his resignation.
Cuomo announced he would resign from office earlier this month after New York Attorney General Letitia James released a report that found he sexually harassed 11 women, and in an address on his last day in office Monday, the departing governor slammed the report while continuing to deny the numerous allegations against him.
"A firecracker can start a stampede, but at one point, everyone looks around and says, 'why are we running?'" Cuomo said. "The truth is ultimately always revealed. The attorney general's report was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic, and it worked. There was a political and media stampede. But the truth will out in time. In that, I am confident."
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.
An investigation found that Cuomo harassed multiple women and engaged in "unwanted groping, kissing, and hugging, and making inappropriate comments," James' office said. On Monday, Cuomo said his "instinct" was to "fight this because it is unfair and unjust in my mind" but that he was stepping aside because it's "the right thing." New York Lieutenant Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to succeed Cuomo as governor, becoming the first female governor of the state.
At the end of his address, Cuomo said Hochul will "step up to the challenge," and he also slipped in one final dig at New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) by suggesting Eric Adams would bring a "new philosophy and competence to the position" of mayor.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Storm warning
Feature The U.S. is headed for an intense hurricane season. Will a shrunken FEMA and NOAA be able to respond?
-
U.S. v. Skrmetti: Did the trans rights movement overreach?
Feature The Supreme Court upholds a Tennessee law that bans transgender care for minors, dealing a blow to trans rights
-
How would the Trump administration denaturalize immigrant citizens?
Today's Big Question Using civil courts lowers the burden of proof
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
Zohran Mamdani: the young progressive likely to be New York City's next mayor
In The Spotlight The policies and experience that led to his meteoric rise
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Some mainstream Democrats struggle with Zohran Mamdani's surprise win
TALKING POINT To embrace or not embrace? A party in transition grapples with a rising star ready to buck political norms and energize a new generation.
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible