St. Lawrence County state and federal representatives Tuesday agreed Gov. Andrew Cuomo did the right thing by resigning amid sexual abuse allegations.

State Senator Patty Ritchie expressed relief after the announcement.

“It is well past time to close this unfortunate chapter in New York’s history. I am relieved that today, the Governor made the right decision to step down, which will allow us to regain focus on the tremendous challenges we face as a state,” the senator said.

I look forward to working with Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul in her new role as Governor, as she is someone I have known and worked with for many years, dating back to when we both served as County Clerks. A fellow Upstate New Yorker, I have always appreciated Lt. Governor Hochul’s willingness to listen, visit my district and understand the issues we face.”

I wish Lt. Governor Hochul the best of luck in her new position and am hopeful we can work expeditiously to get New York back on track.”

Assemblyman Mark Walczyk (R,C,I-Watertown) said Gov. Andrew Cuomo did one thing right - resigning.

“Gov. Cuomo was right about one thing – his resignation is the right thing to do for the people of the state. The circus created by the outgoing Governor has been a distraction from doing the people’s business for far too long.”

“With that being said, let’s not lose sight that for the sake of justice, investigations into the misconduct by Governor Cuomo still need to be thoroughly reviewed by law enforcement officials. He does not get to write his own obituary. He needs to be held accountable.”

“As New York emerges from a very dark time, history is upon us. In the coming months, I look forward to working with the state’s first female Governor, Kathy Hochul, on ways to deliver meaningful, positive change for the people of the Front Yard of America.”

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) says New York Governor Andrew Cuomo needs to be arrested in response to Cuomo’s resignation announcement Tuesday.

She also called on the state’s next governor to clean house.

“New Yorkers have lived for far too long under the Worst Governor in America’s corrupt and criminal tenure,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “This resignation is long past overdue. Governor Cuomo needs to be arrested and prosecuted for sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual abuse. Governor Cuomo also needs to be arrested and prosecuted for his criminal acts covering up the tragic deaths of our most vulnerable seniors in nursing homes.

According to a CNN report, Cuomo’s resignation would take effect in two weeks, when he will hand over the reins to his deputy, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.

His resignation comes one week after the release of a report by the state attorney general that found he sexually harassed 11 women. His announcement Tuesday ends his decade leading the state and heading off a potential impeachment by New York’s Democratic-led legislature.

“The best way I can help is if I step aside and let the government get back to governing,” the Democratic governor said.

In the seven days since New York state Attorney General Letitia James made her report public, Cuomo, the son of another three-term governor, faced new and more adamant calls to step down from state and national Democrats alike. He initially pushed back, seeking more time, but ultimately relented and decided to resign before state lawmakers could begin a process that would likely have led to his impeachment and removal from office.

The announcement capped a remarkable fall for the governor, who was lauded for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, only to see his administration swallowed up in scandal – over his alleged sexual misbehavior, the underreporting of nursing home deaths related to the coronavirus and his potential abuse of public resources as he wrote a book last year about the pandemic in New York.

Stefanik continued.

“In addition, Governor Cuomo and his staff, funded by the taxpayers, must be prosecuted for using state resources to negotiate a multimillion-dollar book deal using state resources illegally. There are multiple federal and state laws that the Governor and his staff have broken, and they need to be held accountable. Every New Yorker must know that there is equal justice under the law - no matter if you are the most powerful figure in New York or an everyday New Yorker,” she said.

“The systemic culture of criminal corruption, political vengeance, and illegal retaliation under Andrew Cuomo was brushed under the rug for years by Democrats, the media, and the cesspool of Albany. It is a disgraceful chapter in New York’s history.

“The next Governor Kathy Hochul must purge Cuomo’s abusive, corrupt, and criminal political appointees immediately to clean house for the sake of every New Yorker.”

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released this statement:

“First and foremost, I want to thank the incredibly courageous women who came forward and shared their stories. They are the true public servants here. New York now has a chance to move forward and build a new culture of leadership. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul is an exceptional public servant and will be an excellent governor. I look forward to working together to continue serving the people of our great state.”

New York GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy issued this statement, “New Yorkers can breathe a collective sigh of relief that Andrew Cuomo will no longer be able to wield the immense power of the governor’s office to commit his corruption and abuse, but make no mistake, this resignation is simply an attempt to avoid real accountability for his numerous crimes. Thousands of lives have been destroyed by Andrew Cuomo and the legislature must continue to move forward with impeachment to ensure he can never run for office again.”

“Whether it was his numerous pay-to-play and corruption scandals, his deadly nursing home coverup or his $5 million book deal, the New York Republican Party has traveled across the state to expose the real Andrew Cuomo, even when it was a lonely solo mission. We will not rest until the entire stench of the Cuomo Administration is wiped clean from the state government and we usher in a new era of integrity and common sense under a Republican governor in 2022.”

“The Governor has done the right thing. New York is facing many challenges as we battle the ongoing impact of COVID-19. My team and I stand ready to assist incoming Governor Hochul as we move the state forward,” said State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-I-C-Rome, released this statement:

“A disgraceful, disappointing and unfortunate chapter in the history of state government has ended with the resignation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who had lost credibility and whose conduct and behavior was unacceptable. This resignation was a needed and necessary action to meet the challenges confronting New York and we cannot sit idle now. There is still much work to be done, especially as we continue to confront and recover from the coronavirus pandemic. I look forward to working with incoming Gov. Kathy Hochul to ensure that the Mohawk Valley and North Country receive the attention they deserve and that our communities have access to the resources that they need to rebuild, grow and flourish for years to come.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James said:

“Today closes a sad chapter for all of New York, but it’s an important step towards justice.

“I thank Governor Cuomo for his contributions to our state. The ascension of our Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul, will help New York enter a new day. We must continue to build on the progress already made and improve the lives of New Yorkers in every corner of the state. I know our state is in good hands with Lieutenant Governor Hochul at the helm, and I look forward to continuing to work with her.”