State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resigns amid abuse allegations

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has resigned amid abuse allegations.

The Democrat issued the following statement Monday evening.

Four women who have had romantic relationships with New York's attorney general have accused him of physically abusing them.

Two of the women spoke on record to The New Yorker , which published their claims against Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Monday.

Michelle Manning Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam say Schneiderman repeatedly hit them, often after drinking, and without their consent.

Selvaratnam says the Democrat warned her he could have her followed or her phones tapped. Both say he threatened to kill them if they broke up with him.

Selvaratnam issued this statement:

“After I found out that other women had been abused by Attorney-General Schneiderman in a similar manner many years before me, I wondered, who’s next, and knew something needed to be done. So I chose to come forward both to protect women who might enter into a relationship with him in the future but also to raise awareness around the issue of intimate partner violence.”

A Schneiderman spokesman says he never made any threats. In a statement released prior to his resignation, Schneiderman says he engaged in "role-playing and other consensual sexual activity," but did not assault anyone.
    
The Associated Press is identifying the two women who spoke to The New Yorker because they agreed to tell their stories publicly.

Mr. Schneidermen released the following statement on Monday.

Statement from Eric T. Schneiderman:

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

— Eric T. Schneiderman (@Schneiderman) May 7, 2018

Schneiderman's ex-wife, Jennifer Cunningham also issued a statement in light of the allegations.

“I’ve known Eric for nearly 35 years as a husband, father and friend. These allegations are completely inconsistent with the man I know, who has always been someone of the highest character, outstanding values and a loving father. I find it impossible to believe these allegations are true.”

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released an official statement Monday evening regarding the allegations against Schneiderman.

Cynthia Nixon, Cuomo's challenger in the upcoming gubernatorial primary issued the following statement.

STATEMENT BY CYNTHIA NIXON ON AG SCHNEIDERMAN  

"The descriptions by these brave women of the physical and sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman are sickening. It is the right decision for him to resign immediately. The women who came forward so courageously to tell their stories and spared others from suffering are heroines. The investigation should continue. We need to get to the bottom of the enormous culture of silence that protects those in power. We must continue to work to end this national epidemic."

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown wrote:

In the wake of very troubling and disturbing statements of several women who alleged similar violent encounters with NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, it is appropriate that he has chosen to resign his position. Any act of violence against anyone is intolerable and we cannot and will not permit such behavior to go unchallenged and properly adjudicated.

To read the New Yorker's report click here.