With Eric Schneiderman gone, the show must go on
New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resigned on serious allegations of abuse of at least four women. Schneiderman has done the right thing- there can be no tolerance of such conduct and the reports sound credible. In a statement, Schneiderman noted:
In the last several hours, serious allegations, which I strongly contest, have been made against me. 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 will face whatever legal implications these allegations bring. In the meantime, the New York legislature, which has a large Democratic majority in the House and a one-person majority in the Senate, will select the new Attorney General. As the Great Flying Wallendas would say, “the show must go on.” There is important work to be done on many fronts, including the efforts that Schneiderman had initiated to address an inadvertent loophole in the New York criminal code for double jeopardy protections for people pardoned.
The New York Attorney General’s office has not been immune to past inappropriate behavior. Several years ago, then-Attorney General Elliot Spitzer resigned when a scandal was disclosed. The Attorney General’s office of New York is a large office with many excellent lawyers and prosecutors, and one of those will likely get the nod to take over the work of the New York Attorney General.
The allegations were first reported in The New Yorker with detailed and graphic accusations of choking and slapping. He will now face whatever the justice system might mete out against him. Schneiderman has sued Harvey Weinstein. The New York legislature must diligently go about naming a replacement so that the important work of the Attorney General can continue. In the meantime, we mourn the harm that the women have suffered in this matter.
Daniel is a lawyer writing and teaching about SCOTUS, and is the author of the book “The Chief Justices” about the SCOTUS as seen through the center seat.