Cuomo files for retirement benefits

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has filed for retirement benefits days before he leaves the governor’s office after resigning over a sexual harassment scandal. 

Cuomo’s retirement benefits will become active on Sept. 1, a spokesperson for the New York comptroller’s office said on Wednesday, Rochester First reported.

The office said a person must file for the benefits between 15 days before leaving office and 90 days after leaving office. 

Cuomo resigned from office after the New York attorney general’s office released a report alleging the governor sexually harassed multiple women and threatened to retaliate against one who was going to speak up about it. 

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) will succeed Cuomo, becoming the first female governor of the state, on Aug. 24.

Cuomo maintains his innocence and says he would have beat the impeachment trial the state legislature was planning for the governor. 

“I’m not gonna drag the state through the mud, through a three-month, four-month impeachment and then win and have made the state legislature and the state government look like a ship of fools when everything I’ve done all my life was for the exact opposite,” Cuomo said. “I’m not doing that. I feel good. I’m not a martyr. It’s just, I saw the options: option A, option B.”

The annual pension for the governor is estimated to be $50,000, according to the local outlet, unless he gets convicted of a felony. 

The Hill has reached out to the comptroller’s office and Cuomo’s office for comment.