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A Look Back at Eric Schneiderman’s Rise, and Abrupt Fall Who Is Eric Schneiderman? A Look Back at His Rise and Abrupt Fall
(about 7 hours later)
In an article published Monday by The New Yorker, multiple women who had relationships with Eric T. Schneiderman, the New York attorney general, accused him of physically assaulting them.In an article published Monday by The New Yorker, multiple women who had relationships with Eric T. Schneiderman, the New York attorney general, accused him of physically assaulting them.
Almost immediately after the article was published, calls for Mr. Schneiderman to resign came pouring in from officials, including Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.Almost immediately after the article was published, calls for Mr. Schneiderman to resign came pouring in from officials, including Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.
Mr. Schneiderman, 63, has contested the allegations in statements. Still, late on Monday, he announced his resignation.Mr. Schneiderman, 63, has contested the allegations in statements. Still, late on Monday, he announced his resignation.
Here is a look at Mr. Schneiderman’s career, including his yearslong defense of women and his rise to prominence as a foil to the Trump administration.Here is a look at Mr. Schneiderman’s career, including his yearslong defense of women and his rise to prominence as a foil to the Trump administration.
[Read our article about the accusations.][Read our article about the accusations.]
Mr. Schneiderman graduated from Amherst College in 1977 and Harvard Law School in 1982, and was a deputy sheriff in Massachusetts in between.Mr. Schneiderman graduated from Amherst College in 1977 and Harvard Law School in 1982, and was a deputy sheriff in Massachusetts in between.
As a public interest lawyer, Mr. Schneiderman represented women seeking access to health clinics, sometimes suing protesters who he said harassed the women outside of the clinics. Along the way, he expressed support for codifying the Roe v. Wade decision into state law.As a public interest lawyer, Mr. Schneiderman represented women seeking access to health clinics, sometimes suing protesters who he said harassed the women outside of the clinics. Along the way, he expressed support for codifying the Roe v. Wade decision into state law.
Mr. Schneiderman also spent 15 years in private practice before leaving to begin a successful campaign for the State Senate. He was elected in 1998 and seated the next year.Mr. Schneiderman also spent 15 years in private practice before leaving to begin a successful campaign for the State Senate. He was elected in 1998 and seated the next year.
On Nov. 2, 2010, he was elected as the 65th attorney general of New York, making him the chief law enforcement officer of the state. He had been up for re-election this year.On Nov. 2, 2010, he was elected as the 65th attorney general of New York, making him the chief law enforcement officer of the state. He had been up for re-election this year.
Mr. Schneiderman was widely seen as harboring ambitions to be governor. He styled himself as a political outsider.Mr. Schneiderman was widely seen as harboring ambitions to be governor. He styled himself as a political outsider.
“Where Washington D.C. has failed to lead on the issues that matter, Eric has made clear that New York will provide a road map for the rest of the country,” his biography on the attorney general’s office website says.“Where Washington D.C. has failed to lead on the issues that matter, Eric has made clear that New York will provide a road map for the rest of the country,” his biography on the attorney general’s office website says.
He had also raised his profile nationally in the last year by repeatedly taking on President Trump’s agenda in the courts. (Mr. Trump himself has been accused of sexual misconduct, though he has denied the allegations.)He had also raised his profile nationally in the last year by repeatedly taking on President Trump’s agenda in the courts. (Mr. Trump himself has been accused of sexual misconduct, though he has denied the allegations.)
Even before Mr. Trump took office, Mr. Schneiderman had filed a lawsuit against Trump University. And more recently, he had been pushing to change state law so his office could prosecute Mr. Trump’s aides if the president pardons them.Even before Mr. Trump took office, Mr. Schneiderman had filed a lawsuit against Trump University. And more recently, he had been pushing to change state law so his office could prosecute Mr. Trump’s aides if the president pardons them.
“We must ensure that if the president, or any president, issues such pardons, we can use the full force of New York’s laws to bring such individuals to justice,” Mr. Schneiderman said last month.“We must ensure that if the president, or any president, issues such pardons, we can use the full force of New York’s laws to bring such individuals to justice,” Mr. Schneiderman said last month.
Other actions Mr. Schneiderman has taken in opposition to Mr. Trump include a lawsuit filed to block the president’s travel ban and a vow to defend the rights of sanctuary cities in his state.Other actions Mr. Schneiderman has taken in opposition to Mr. Trump include a lawsuit filed to block the president’s travel ban and a vow to defend the rights of sanctuary cities in his state.
Last June, Mr. Schneiderman helped introduce a bill last year in the State Legislature for cost-free contraception, similar to legislation he had called for in the previous year. But he said last year in an interview that he introduced it again because Mr. Trump’s election increased his sense of urgency.Last June, Mr. Schneiderman helped introduce a bill last year in the State Legislature for cost-free contraception, similar to legislation he had called for in the previous year. But he said last year in an interview that he introduced it again because Mr. Trump’s election increased his sense of urgency.
Mr. Schneiderman had been outspoken about women’s issues throughout his career.Mr. Schneiderman had been outspoken about women’s issues throughout his career.
In 2010, while he was still a state senator from Manhattan, he introduced a bill to make intentional strangulation to the point of unconsciousness a violent felony. That same year, the National Organization for Women’s New York branch endorsed him in his successful bid for attorney general, citing his “unmatched work” in “protecting women who are victims of domestic abuse.”In 2010, while he was still a state senator from Manhattan, he introduced a bill to make intentional strangulation to the point of unconsciousness a violent felony. That same year, the National Organization for Women’s New York branch endorsed him in his successful bid for attorney general, citing his “unmatched work” in “protecting women who are victims of domestic abuse.”
While Mr. Schneiderman was attorney general, his office, for several years, published a “Know Your Rights” brochure for victims of domestic violence.While Mr. Schneiderman was attorney general, his office, for several years, published a “Know Your Rights” brochure for victims of domestic violence.
“We must recognize that our work keeping New Yorkers safe from domestic violence is far from over,” Mr. Schneiderman said in the announcement for the 2016 brochure.“We must recognize that our work keeping New Yorkers safe from domestic violence is far from over,” Mr. Schneiderman said in the announcement for the 2016 brochure.
Recently, he pushed himself to the forefront of the #MeToo movement, announcing a lawsuit against the company once run by the former filmmaker Harvey Weinstein, who was accused of decades of sexual misconduct.Recently, he pushed himself to the forefront of the #MeToo movement, announcing a lawsuit against the company once run by the former filmmaker Harvey Weinstein, who was accused of decades of sexual misconduct.
“We have never seen anything as despicable as what we’ve seen right here,” Mr. Schneiderman said at the time.“We have never seen anything as despicable as what we’ve seen right here,” Mr. Schneiderman said at the time.
At the direction of Governor Cuomo, he was also reviewing the 2015 decision by the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., not to prosecute Mr. Weinstein after an Italian model accused him of groping her.At the direction of Governor Cuomo, he was also reviewing the 2015 decision by the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., not to prosecute Mr. Weinstein after an Italian model accused him of groping her.
[Read more of Eric Schneiderman’s own words in defense of women’s rights.][Read more of Eric Schneiderman’s own words in defense of women’s rights.]