A powerful federal judge quit on Monday after a growing number of women accused him of predatory behavior over a period of years — the latest powerful man to belatedly pay a price for past sexual misconduct.

Alex Kozinski, a Reagan appointee who had served on the influential 9th Circuit federal appeals court, was facing a judicial investigation over accusations that he harassed or abused at least 15 women, said his resignation would be effective immediately.

“It grieves me to learn that I caused any of my clerks to feel uncomfortable; this was never my intent,” the 67-year-old said, according to The Washington Post. “For this I sincerely apologize.”

In a statement distributed by his attorney, the accused creep seemed to give himself a pass for his behavior, suggesting the complaints resulted from his “broad sense of humor and a candid way of speaking to both male and female law clerks alike.”

“In doing so,” he added, “I may not have been mindful enough of the special challenges and pressures that women face in the workplace.”

The judge said his relatives and pals had urged him to stay on, “long enough to defend myself,” but that he “cannot be an effective judge and simultaneously fight this battle. Nor would such a battle be good for my beloved federal judiciary. And so I am making the decision to retire, effective immediately.”

The announcement comes just days after paper reported that nine more women had accused Kozinski of making sexual comments to them, including four who said he touched them inappropriately.

That story followed an earlier report in The Washington Post that detailed the allegations of six women, including young clerks who said Kozinski showed them porn in his chambers.

“One or more” of Kozinski’s clerks had resigned after the allegations against Kozinski became public, a court official told the paper.

Kozinski was appointed to the 9th Circuit by President Reagan in 1985 and over time became one of the most famed federal appeals court judges in the federal judiciary.

But he had a rep among staffers as a creep and a bully.

He demanded his clerks work torturous hours, and three ex-clerks said he showed them porn that had no connection to any case on his docket.

Others, including clerks, law students, professors and even a former judge accused him of inappropriate comments, touching and kissing.

The 9th circuit, which covers California and a handful of other western states, has long been viewed as leaning left, and issued several recent rulings against President Trump’s travel ban.