Amid increasing calls for his resignation, State University of New York chancellor Jim Malatras has announced he's leaving the job he's held since last year.

Text messages recently released by the state attorney general's office revealed Malatras disparaged a woman who later accused Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment.

In his resignation letter, Malatras said "the recent events surrounding me over the past week have become a distraction over the important work that needs to be accomplished as SUNY emerges from Covid-19."

Malatras wrote that he "would never want to be an impediment to" SUNY's success.

The chancellor said his resignation would be effective January 14.

Malatras was named to head the 64-campus SUNY system in August 2020.

Dozens of state Assembly members on Tuesday had called for the firing of Malatras, who also has been implicated in some of the scandals that involved Governor Cuomo.

SUNY chancellor Jim Malatras in Binghamton on March 3, 2021. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
SUNY chancellor Jim Malatras in Binghamton on March 3, 2021. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com.

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