Cuomo Sex Harassment: Top aide and pillar of toxicity resigns

One of estranged Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s top aides has resigned following the release of the incriminating report that has left his administration’s response to the allegations and their toxic environment exposed. Melissa DeRosa, one of Cuomo’s top aides was spearheading the containment of the sexual harassment scandal and is infamously known for giving rise to the toxic culture exposed in this report.

DeRosa announced her resignation on Sunday and said serving the people of New York [bullying her staff members and Cuomo’s alleged victims] was the greatest honor of her life. She started working for Gov. Cuomo in 2013 and then climbed the ranks to become one of his most trusted aides.

DeRosa was accused of being behind one of the most toxic workplaces, ex-employees alleged that the workplace encouraged bullying and the senior aides were running a gulag with DeRosa being the ringleader. The New York Attorney General’s release of the damning report of an independent investigation confirmed the existence of the alleged toxicity.

Toxic Culture, Chris Cuomo Involvement, “Contrite” Script – Exposed

Evidence in the report suggested DeRosa pushed for a “retaliatory” statement back in February, which was opposed by other members of the inner circle. DeRosa also victim shamed and was pointed out by another member for pushing a draft that was allegedly “slut-shaming” a victim. She was also behind an alleged op-ed that had Dani Lever, a former Cuomo employee gather dirt on Boylan, dig up complaints from her personal files and then share them with the group and giving the journalists a heads-up before the files were being sent.

DeRosa also called another victim, Karen Hinton, “the furthest thing in the World from a wallflower,” and said “we have officially jumped the shark.” Indicating the victim was allegedly making a misguided publicity stunt. She declared it “absurd” for Hinton to come out after 21 years with the allegations. If that wasn’t enough, DeRosa also tried to get the members of the administration to sign an alleged letter that was “attacking” Lindsey Boylan. DeRosa was later convinced by another member, Annabel Walsh, to go for a different type of letter that would highlight Cuomo, rather than “attack” Boylan. “Attacking her [Boylan] isn’t going to be signed onto by anyone,” Annabel Walsh said to DeRosa.

Melissa DeRosa, long accused for leading the toxic culture that has tainted the Cuomo Administration is now leaving, and her decisions have taught us a valuable lesson. Power corrupts us and we must always be careful when we are in power or support those who are. She did not listen to any of the alleged victims when the person accused was Andrew Cuomo, instead did whatever she could to get back at the accusers.

Hinterher ist man immer schlauer, everyone is an expert with the virtue of hindsight, and we would think she did some things wrong but at the time believed certain “facts” that pronounced the accusations unfounded, but there is no excuse for the toxic culture that she bore.