New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democratic women’s rights advocate, resigned Monday over allegations of physical violence against four women.
“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,” Schneiderman said as reported by The New Yorker. “I therefore resign my office, effective at the close of business on May 8, 2018.”
The publication’s Jane Mayer and Ronan Farrow spoke to two accusers on the record: Michelle Manning Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam. They allege that Schneiderman “repeatedly hit them, often after drinking, frequently in bed and never with their consent,” the story said.
In response, Republican Attorneys General Association Chairman (RAGA) and Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said, for RAGA, “The allegations against Eric Schneiderman are sickening. With devastating detail, the courageous women involved shared the horror and abuse they endured at the hands of a disturbed monster. I commend these strong women for standing up, speaking out and sharing their stories which will hopefully empower other victims to speak out against violence. These women will be the ones who are remembered, not this sick man. While Schneiderman has resigned as Attorney General of New York, I am hopeful that he will also be held accountable for the violent attacks against his victims.”
Breitbart reported that The New Yorker showed an irony from the story: Schneiderman “styled himself as a champion of women’s rights as he sued disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and accepted an award from a pro-choice organization.”
President Donald Trump and Schneiderman crossed paths in Schneiderman’s lawsuit against Trump University for alleged fraud, then in lawsuits against the Trump administration. Schneiderman was also reportedly working with Special Counsel Robert Mueller against Trump campaign associates.
Four and a half years ago, back in 2013, Trump sent out what now appears to be this somewhat prophetic tweet about Schneiderman:
Schneiderman’s resignation came just hours after the story broke in The New Yorker.
His quick and decisive resignation may be a sign that other politicians around the country were paying attention when former Nashville Mayor Barry refused to resign immediately when the scandalous story that she had been conducting a two year long affair with her Metro Nashville Police Department bodyguard broke in January.
Barry tried to tough it out, but after a little more than a month of twisting in the wind while Nashville was subjected to an ongoing embarrassment, she ending up pleading guilty to a felony and resigning in disgrace on March 6.
