Biden says Cuomo did ‘a hell of a job’ as governor aside from his ‘personal behavior’

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President Biden has reiterated his support for New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s decision to resign, but in the same breath praised Mr Cuomo’s leadership.

At a press conference, Mr Biden stressed that he was talking about Mr Cuomo’s performance as governor, not his “personal behavior.”

“I thought he’s done a hell of a job,” Mr Biden said. “On everything from access to voting to infrastructure – a whole range of things. That’s why it’s so sad.”

The president had previously called on Mr Cuomo to resign, after a report by New York’s state attorney general concluded that the governor had harassed nearly a dozen women. After the governor announced his plans to resign, Mr Biden reiterated his position.

“I think the impact is all on Andrew Cuomo and his decision to make that judgement, and I respect his decision,” the president said.

Earlier on Tuesday, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki praised the bravery of the women who accused Mr Cuomo of harassment.

“Our view is that this is a story about these courageous women who came forward, told their stories, shared their stories, and an investigation overseen by the attorney general that of course concluded today in an outcome that the president called for just last week,” Ms Psaki told reporters.

Ms Psaki added that President Biden had not been given a “heads-up” before the resignation announcement, and had not spoken to Mr Cuomo.

The New York governor announced on Tuesday that he will resign in 14 days, saying the “distractions” of his scandal had made it impossible for him to govern.

“Given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing,” Mr Cuomo said. “And therefore, that’s what I’ll do.”

The announcement comes a week after New York State’s attorney general, Letitia James, released a report concluding that Mr Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women.

“[W]e find that the Governor sexually harassed a number of current and former New York State employees by, among other things, engaging in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching, as well as making numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women,” the attorney general’s office said.

After that report came out, Mr Biden said he believed Mr Cuomo should resign.

“I’m not going to flyspeck this,” the president said last week. “I’m sure there were some embraces that were totally innocent. But apparently, the attorney general decided there were things that weren’t.”

On Tuesday, the White House said Mr Biden’s position had not changed.

“The president made clear his views last week, and those stand,” Ms Psaki said.