NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman Resigns After Women Accuse Him of Physical Abuse

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman speaking during a press conference regarding a major drug bust, at the office of the New York Attorney General in New York City, September 23, 2016. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

(JTA) — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resigned hours after the New Yorker magazine published a report detailing allegations against him by four women who said that he physically abused them.

Schneiderman announced his resignation in a statement issued on May 7.

“In the last several hours, serious allegations, which I strongly contest, have been made against me,” he said in the statement. “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. I therefore resign my office, effective at the close of business on May 8, 2018.”

Schneiderman, 63, has been an active supporter of the #MeToo movement, including bringing legal action in New York against disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexually assaulting women.

Two of the women named in the article, Michelle Manning Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam told the magazine that Schneiderman hit them and choked them without consent, and that it often occurred after drinking and in the bedroom. Some of the incidents required medical treatment, they said, though they did not file police reports about the incidents. They also said that Schneiderman threatened to kill them if they stopped seeing him.

Two other women, who were not named, said they experienced similar violence in their relationships with Schneiderman.

Schneiderman said in a statement after the article appeared online: “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 nonconsensual sex, which is a line I would not cross.”

Shortly after Schneiderman’s resignation was announced, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said it had opened an investigation into the allegations against Schneiderman.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats like Schneiderman,  called for the attorney general’s resignation immediately after the article appeared. Gillibrand had led the effort to remove Minnesota Senator Al Franken from the Senate after sexual misconduct allegations were leveled against him.

Schneiderman’s ex-wife, Jennifer Cunningham, told The New York Times that the “allegations are completely inconsistent with the man I know, who has always been someone of the highest character, outstanding values and a loving father.”

As a state senator he supported legislation to help abused women, and the attorney general’s office has published a “Know Your Rights” brochure for victims of domestic violence, the Times reported.

The New Yorker article was co-authored by Ronan Farrow, who first wrote about the allegations about Weinstein.

You May Also Like
Baltimore-Based Israel Baseball Americas Aims to Expand Influence of Baseball in the Jewish State
Adam Gladstone played a crucial role in helping Team Israel prepare for and work its way to a surprising sixth-place finish in the World Baseball Classic. (Photo courtesy of Adam Gladstone)

Launched Mar. 18, Israel Baseball Americas is an effort to support the Israel Association of Baseball.

Making a Racket about Racquetball
Park Heights JCC

A group of longtime racquetball players is upset about the JCC's decision to remove its courts, writes Michael Olesker.

Ashkelon Youth to Visit Baltimore as Part of Diller Teen Fellowship Program
Diller Fellowship's three-week summer seminar

While in Charm City, the fellows will visit the Inner Harbor and Fells Point while meeting with local Jewish community officials.

Baltimore Zionist District to Present ‘Echoes of October 7’ Virtual Event
The Empty Shabbat Table

Among the speakers during the March 19 gathering will be Sharon Alony-Cunio, whose husband continues to be held hostage in Gaza.