Andrew Cuomo, the former Governor of New York and now a candidate for New York City mayor, expressed regret about his resignation in 2021 amid allegations of sexual harassment.
In an interview published recently, he stated, “If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t have resigned.” He explained that he felt overwhelmed by government operations at the time. It’s interesting, I guess, to think about, like, the chaos he was navigating—you know, the thought that maybe everything happening around him was just a façade of sorts. Reflecting on the last four years, he wondered, “What really happened anyway?”
Cuomo stepped down shortly after State Attorney General Letitia James revealed that he had “sexually harassed many of his former employees,” creating an environment “full of fear and threats.” While he had previously admitted to making some women uncomfortable, he denied the allegations against him, claiming his resignation was to avoid distracting from the state’s necessary work.
At 67, Cuomo has gained significant support ahead of the June 24 mayoral primary after launching his campaign in March. He faces competition from state legislator Zohran Mamdani and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, among others.
Talking about the reasons behind his return, Cuomo said, “I was in the private sector, just enjoying life.” However, he couldn’t ignore what was unfolding in New York City, voicing concerns about Mayor Adams and even President Trump.
His time in the private sector includes consulting work, reportedly earning over $500,000 in 2024, though he hasn’t named his clients. He mentioned that, as an attorney, he is unable to reveal those details, alluding to his law degree from Albany Law School.
Cuomo also touched on an early project involving a marina at a former military base in Puerto Rico, which he thought was promising but ultimately stalled without any financial gain.
Last year, Cuomo filed a lawsuit against AG James for transparency in the findings of the sexual harassment report and also lodged an ethics complaint against New York Democrats in 2022.
Aside from the harassment allegations, he faced substantial criticism for his response during the initial stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite being a key figure in recovery efforts. Recently, the Department of Justice initiated an investigation into his past statements before Congress about his administration’s nursing home policies during that time.
