NY Governor Cuomo's top aide Melissa DeRosa resigns
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's top aide Melissa DeRosa has resigned following a scathing report that alleged the governor sexually harassed multiple women.
Melissa DeRosa resigned from her position as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's top aide on Sunday.
The 38-year-old's resignation comes just days after an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James concluded Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women, including staffers.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve the people of New York for the past 10 years," she wrote in a statement on Sunday.
Her statement: pic.twitter.com/ierDKCzzZY
— Zack Fink (@ZackFinkNews) August 9, 2021
"New Yorkers' resilience, strength and optimism through the most difficult times has inspired me every day.
"Personally, the past 2 years have been emotionally and mentally trying. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such talented and committed colleagues on behalf of our state."
Ms DeRosa made history as the first woman to serve as the secretary to the governor, the highest unelected position in the state, in 2017.
Known for her fierce loyalty to her boss, Ms DeRosa was accused of being part of the "toxic" work environment established by Cuomo as well as downplaying claims of his sexual harassment.
A scathing report by the state's attorney general Letitia James concluded Govt Cuomo "sexually harassed multiple women and in doing so violated federal and state law".
She said the investigation found a "hostile" work environment for women, as the governor engaged in unwelcome and "non consensual touching", as well as making "numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature".
Melissa DeRosa resigned from her position as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's top aide on Sunday.
The 38-year-old's resignation comes just days after an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James concluded Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women, including staffers.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve the people of New York for the past 10 years," she wrote in a statement on Sunday.
Her statement: pic.twitter.com/ierDKCzzZY
— Zack Fink (@ZackFinkNews) August 9, 2021
"New Yorkers' resilience, strength and optimism through the most difficult times has inspired me every day.
"Personally, the past 2 years have been emotionally and mentally trying. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such talented and committed colleagues on behalf of our state."
Ms DeRosa made history as the first woman to serve as the secretary to the governor, the highest unelected position in the state, in 2017.
Known for her fierce loyalty to her boss, Ms DeRosa was accused of being part of the "toxic" work environment established by Cuomo as well as downplaying claims of his sexual harassment.
A scathing report by the state's attorney general Letitia James concluded Govt Cuomo "sexually harassed multiple women and in doing so violated federal and state law".
She said the investigation found a "hostile" work environment for women, as the governor engaged in unwelcome and "non consensual touching", as well as making "numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature".
'I didn't say anything this whole time'
Brittany Commisso, an assistant to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo publicly identified herself on Monday as one of 11 woman whose claims of sexual harrassment was detailed in the report.
Ms Commisso claimed the governor engaged in "close and intimate hugs" on multiple occasions, including one incident when he "reached under her blouse and grabbed her breast".
"What he did to me was a crime," she told CBS This Morning.
Ms Commisso described a series of escalating encounters with the governor, which began with "hugs and kisses on the cheek" which escalated to kissing her on the lips.
"Then there was at one point a hug, and then when he went to go kiss me on the cheek, he'd quickly turned his head and he kissed me on the lips," she said.
"I didn't say anything this whole time. People don't understand that this is the governor of the state of New York. I felt as though if I did something to insult him, especially insult him in his own home, it wasn't going to be him that was going to get fired or in trouble. It was going to be me.
"And I felt as though if I said something that I know, who was going to believe me?"
https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/united-states/ny-governor-cuomos-top-aide-melissa-derosa-resigns/news-story/99cf8fb08d146b9dcf7c2922afe471d3