Written by: Luis Ferre-Southern
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s prime aide, Melissa DeRosa, stated late Sunday that she had resigned, a transfer that got here after the governor fought for his political survival after a report by New York’s legal professional normal concluded that he had virtually A dozen ladies have been sexually assaulted.
His resignation meant Cuomo, a third-term Democrat, misplaced considered one of his most loyal allies and trusted strategists whereas going through an imminent risk of impeachment within the state legislature and stepping down from a bunch of his celebration’s prime officers, together with the president. referred to as upon. Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
DeRosa stood by the governor’s facet for years, at the same time as his inside circle shrunk in measurement and several other prime staff who helped elect him for the primary time in 2010 left the administration.
The state legal professional normal’s report discovered that DeRosa had led efforts to retaliate in opposition to one of many ladies who spoke publicly about her allegation in December.
After changing into a fixture at Cuomo’s coronavirus briefings through the pandemic, DeRosa additionally got here underneath fireplace earlier this 12 months for becoming a member of the administration’s efforts to obscure the total extent of nursing house deaths, A case that’s being investigated by federal officers and the state. Meeting.
DeRosa, 38, stated in a press release on Sunday that “the past two years have been trying emotionally and mentally.”
“Serving the people of New York for the last 10 years has been the greatest honor of my life. The resilience, strength and optimism of New Yorkers during the most difficult times inspires me every day,” she stated. “I am forever grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented and committed colleagues on behalf of my state.”
His departure got here as a shock to Albany as political observers rushed to know what his resignation meant for Cuomo’s future. The governor has not left Albany because the report was launched on Tuesday as he instructed advisers proceed.
According to 2 folks with information of discussions between Cuomo’s aides, the legal professional normal’s report was sharper and extra damaging to Cuomo than these in his class. The report included a beforehand undisclosed allegation from Cuomo’s protecting element to an unidentified feminine state soldier, who stated Cuomo touched her stomach and ran his finger down her again in a suggestive method. Cuomo’s legal professional, Rita Glavin, has stated the governor plans to handle the soldier’s allegations “soon.”
The soldier’s new cost paralyzed one of many ways the governor and his allies have been ready to make use of, making it unattainable to dismiss the report, however solely to reiterate the fees. The legal professional normal launched the investigation after allegations from a number of ladies surfaced in February and March.
In the wake of the report, DeRosa decided that Cuomo not had any method to keep in workplace and would not be prepared to face in public as her defender, one of many folks stated, over non-public dialog. Requested anonymity to debate. Amidst the felony investigation within the Governor.
DeRosa knowledgeable the governor about his determination to resign on Sunday, the particular person stated. Neither DeRosa nor any of his legal professionals responded to a request for additional remark. The governor’s spokesman Richard Azzopardi additionally didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Cuomo denied touching anybody inappropriately, and stated that a number of the 11 ladies who accused him of harassment could have misinterpreted his jokes, hugs and kisses on the cheek as inappropriate. Describing the investigation by the state’s legal professional normal, Letitia James, as biased, hasty and sloppy, her legal professionals have gone on digicam for a stern protection.
DeRosa introduced his resignation the night time earlier than an interview with considered one of Cuomo’s accusers, Brittany Comiso, was scheduled to air on “CBS This Morning.”
Comiso, an government assistant who remained nameless till Sunday, accused Cuomo of groping her breast whereas they have been alone within the government mansion late final 12 months, one of the vital severe claims leveled in opposition to the governor. She filed a felony criticism with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, elevating the chance that Cuomo might face felony fees.
As secretary to the governor, DeRosa was essentially the most highly effective appointed officer within the state. When Cuomo appointed her to the place in 2017, she turned the youngest to carry that place and the primary lady within the position. She joined the Cuomo administration as director of communications in 2013 and was promoted to chief of employees two years later.
The legal professional normal’s report painted an unflattering portrait of DeRosa and her position in fostering a poisonous office and attacking the credibility of Lindsay Boylan, a former financial growth official who accused Cuomo of sexual harassment in December.
After Boylan posted his allegation on Twitter, DeRosa tried to leak Boylan’s personnel information, which contained delicate data, to state officers and outdoors aides, with a purpose to undermine his credibility. She additionally helped draft, assessment, and flow into an abusive letter, which was by no means revealed, however nonetheless attacked Boylan’s character.
The report stated that as a part of these efforts, DeRosa instructed a former worker to name a feminine Cuomo employees member, who had voiced assist for Boylan on Twitter, to mine and name her for data. But to report the dialog, the report stated.
As Cuomo’s right-hand lady, she was deeply concerned in navigating the governor’s priorities via the state legislature and helped Cuomo safe insurance policies just like the $15 minimal wage and paid household go away. She was additionally the chair of the New York State Council on Women and was vocal about ladies’s fertility points.
DeRosa was seen on the state capitol as a protecting, fierce defender of Cuomo, who was identified to have interaction with officers and lawmakers for a number of the intimidating and heavy-handed ways his boss was identified for.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
