US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that he "respects" the decision by New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign - a move announced by the governor earlier in the day.
"I respect the governor’s decision... and I respect the decision he made", Biden said, when asked for his reaction to Cuomo's announcement.
Commenting on Cuomo's tenure as governor, the president said that Cuomo has done a “hell of a job, both on everything from access to voting to infrastructure to a whole range of things".
“That’s why it’s so sad", Biden went on.
The US president is among many American political officials calling for the New York governor to resign over sexual harassment charges. Earlier in August, Biden said that Cuomo should "do the right thing" and make way for "future leadership in New York".
Once Cuomo leaves his position, he will be succeeded by Lt-Gov Kathy Hochul, who has expressed her readiness to become the Empire State's 57th governor.
Cuomo has been under investigation for several months amid allegations of sexual harassment, but denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he never inappropriately touched anyone. He faced accusations of forcible touching from 11 women, many of whom are his former or current employees. A day before his resignation, reports suggested that two more women had stepped forward with sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo.