It’s been 15 years since a New York governor left office without a scandal – and just as long since a Republican has held the job.
Former Gov. George Pataki, who unseated then-Gov. Mario Cuomo in 1995, served three terms left office at the end of 2006.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a former attorney general, defeated Republican candidate John Faso that year, then resigned in 2008 after a scandal involving a high-priced prostitution ring.His replacement, former Lt. Gov. David Patterson, called off his campaign for a full term in office in 2010 amid allegations that his administration improperly intervened after a woman accused one of his close aides of domestic violence.
And Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the son of Mario Cuomo and another former attorney general, announced his resignation Tuesday afternoon following a damning investigation into sexual harassment allegations leveled by 11 women.Current New York Attorney General Letitia James released the results of the probe last week. It alleged that the governor had groped women’s breasts or buttocks, given them unwanted kisses and made inappropriate comments on subordinates’ sex lives. State lawmakers had been discussing impeachment prior to the resignation announcement, and the governor may face the possibility of criminal charges as well.
