James Malatras finally resigned Thursday as SUNY Chancellor after repeated calls (including ours) for him to step down after smearing one of disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s sexual-harassment accusers, Lindsay Boylan.

The former top Cuomo aide and confidante also stands accused of reportedly abusing his own female staff. 

“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 told SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Merryl Tisch in a letter obtained by The Post, setting Jan. 14 as his last day.

Why wait? Interim leadership can do as much as a badly damaged lame duck.

But the bottom line remains: The last Cuomo enabler is headed out of state government. Now Tisch, with Hochul’s input, needs to find a pro (someone like ex-chancellor Nancy Zimpher) who can give the state university the strong, independent leadership it needs.