Eric Schneiderman, New York attorney general, quits amid assault reports

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has resigned following allegations of assault by four women.

The New Yorker magazine published a report quoting the women, two of them ex-girlfriends, who accused Mr Schneiderman, 63, of hitting them.

Mr Schneiderman has been a vocal supporter of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and a fierce opponent of President Donald Trump.

In a statement, Mr Schneiderman said he “strongly contests” the allegations.

“In the privacy of intimate relationships, I have engaged in role-playing and other consensual sexual activity,” the statement says. “I have not assaulted anyone. I have never engaged in non-consensual sex, which is a line I would not cross.”

Mr Schneiderman said: “While these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the office’s work at this critical time.”

Mr Schneiderman became attorney general in 2010 and had intended to run for re-election to the post this year.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had called for Mr Schneiderman’s resignation, following the reports.

“No-one is above the law, including New York’s top legal officer,” he said. “I do not believe it is possible for Eric Schneiderman to continue to serve as attorney general.”

Mr Cuomo said he would ask a prosecutor to investigate the allegations.

“After the most difficult month of my life – I spoke up,” Ms Manning Barish wrote on Twitter after the allegations were published.

“For my daughter and for all women. I could not remain silent and encourage other women to be brave for me.”

Jennifer Cunningham, Mr Schneiderman’s ex-wife, released a statement on Monday saying: “I’ve known Eric for nearly 35 years as a husband, father, and friend… I find it impossible to believe these allegations are true.”

Last month, the New Yorker won a joint Pulitzer Prize with the New York Times for its reporting on sexual harassment in Hollywood.

The reports brought down film mogul Harvey Weinstein, who has denied dozens of sexual misconduct allegations.

What the women alleged in the New Yorker

Michelle Manning Barish: After four weeks of being involved with Mr Schneiderman, she says that, as they were preparing for bed and still fully clothed, he “all of a sudden, just slapped me, open-handed and with great force, across the face” and then pushed her down and began to choke her. She says: “This was under no circumstances a sex game gone wrong… I did not consent to physical assault.” She says he later said: “You know, hitting an officer of the law is a felony.”

Tanya Selvaratnam: Says Mr Schneiderman warned her he could have her followed and phone-tapped and said he would kill her if she broke up with him, all of which he denies. The Sri Lanka-born author and actor says Mr Schneiderman called her “brown slave”, adding: “Sometimes, he’d tell me to call him Master, and he’d slap me until I did.”

Third romantic partner: Says he repeatedly subjected her to non-consensual physical violence.

Fourth woman: A prominent lawyer, says Mr Schneiderman slapped her with force after she rebuffed his advances.

What cases has Mr Schneiderman pursued?

• Mr Weinstein is a prominent one. As New York state’s chief prosecutor, Mr Schneiderman in February brought legal action against the movie producer. The lawsuit alleged that he abused female employees and threatened to kill staff members. Mr Schneiderman spoke out against sexual harassment and intimidation after he announced the lawsuit:

• Trump University. Mr Schneiderman’s NY office sued on behalf of 600 students who said they were conned by what was promoted by Donald Trump as a real estate investment school but which the students said offered no real education. A $25m (£18m) settlement was reached
• The New York Times says Mr Schneiderman’s office has in fact launched 100 legal or administrative actions against the Trump administration and congressional Republicans
• Introduced a bill while state senator making intentional strangulation to the point of unconsciousness a violent crime

Some Republicans have celebrated the demise of Mr Schneiderman.

Presidential counsellor Kellyanne Conway posted a tweet from Mr Schneiderman in which he says he will continue to remind Mr Trump that no-one is above the law. Her own tweet simply says “Gotcha.”

Source: bbc.co.uk