A senior aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has resigned in the wake of a state attorney general's report that the governor sexually harassed 11 women.
Melissa DeRosa, secretary to the governor, was linked in the report to efforts to cover up the governor's actions and retaliate against one of his accusers.
Her name was mentioned 187 times in the 168-page report that was released last Tuesday.
"Personally, the past two years have been emotionally and mentally trying. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such talented colleagues on behalf of our state," Ms DeRosa said in a statement.
The report found that Mr Cuomo groped, kissed or made suggestive comments to 11 women in violation of the law, prompting local prosecutors to launch a criminal investigation and re-igniting calls for him to resign or be impeached.
Mr Cuomo has thus far resisted widespread calls for him to step down, including from fellow Democrats such as President Joe Biden, but he could soon face impeachment and removal from office by state representatives.
The New York State Assembly's Judiciary Committee has scheduled a meeting to address impeachment proceedings today.
Meanwhile, a former assistant who filed a criminal complaint against Mr Cuomo last week on accusations he groped her in the Executive Mansion in Albany will speak publicly for the first time in a televised interview,
and will say the governor "needs to be held accountable".
Brittany Commisso, one of the 11 women Mr Cuomo is accused of sexually harassing, was identified only as "executive assistant #1" in the report.
Last week, she filed a criminal complaint with the Albany sheriff's office.
The sheriff, Craig Apple, told reporters on Saturday his agency and the county district attorney's office would conduct a thorough investigation before determining whether a criminal charge is supported.
Mr Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing, though he has acknowledged that his efforts to be affectionate with people he encounters may have made some people uncomfortable.
His lawyer, Rita Glavin, told reporters on Friday that Ms Commisso's account was fabricated, citing emails and other documentary evidence she said undermines her story.
