New York -- The recent disclosure of an "emotional romantic relationship" between former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his top aide, Melissa DeRosa, casts a new shadow over Cuomo's already blemished reputation. This revelation, emerging amid Cuomo's campaign for New York City mayor, underscores a troubling pattern of ethical breaches and alleged abuses of power that have characterized his career.
Cuomo's tenure as governor was marred by numerous allegations of sexual harassment, with at least 13 women coming forward to accuse him of inappropriate behavior. The U.S. Department of Justice concluded that between 2013 and 2021, Cuomo and his staff engaged in a "pattern or practice of discrimination against female employees based on sex," involving non-consensual contact, ogling, and gender-based nicknames. Top aides were found to have retaliated against four of the women he harassed.
Lindsey Boylan, a former aide, was among the first to accuse Cuomo publicly. She detailed instances of inappropriate comments and unwanted advances, including an unsolicited kiss. Boylan's allegations were met with a concerted effort by Cuomo's inner circle to discredit her. DeRosa played a pivotal role in this retaliation, coordinating the release of Boylan's personnel records to the media in an attempt to undermine her credibility.
Brittany Commisso, another former aide, accused Cuomo of groping her at the Executive Mansion. She described the incident as a violation of her personal space and trust, stating that Cuomo "needs to be held accountable." Commisso's testimony was a significant factor in the investigations that led to Cuomo's resignation.
Charlotte Bennett, a health policy advisor, alleged that Cuomo made inappropriate comments about her personal life, including questions about her relationships and discussions about his own loneliness. Bennett interpreted these remarks as sexual overtures. She later dropped her federal lawsuit, citing severe distress caused by Cuomo's aggressive defense tactics, which she claimed were funded by taxpayer money.
Melissa DeRosa, as Cuomo's top aide, was deeply enmeshed in the administration's efforts to counter these allegations. Beyond orchestrating attacks on accusers like Boylan, DeRosa was part of a culture that suppressed complaints and fostered a hostile work environment. Her resignation in August 2021, following the release of the Attorney General's report, was a tacit acknowledgment of her involvement in these unethical practices. "When all of a sudden you’re combining kissing someone on the cheek and, or putting your hand on someone’s waist for a photograph and acting like that is harassment, or that in some way something that you should be calling for resignation on, then you risk not having more serious claims taken seriously."
These statements would seem to reflect DeRosa's viewpoint as being that some of the allegations against Cuomo were exaggerated or taken out of context, potentially inflating their perceived severity.
Another former Cuomo aide, Josh Vlasto, told the AG’s office on June 7, 2021, that DeRosa had confided in him about the relationship, according to an unredacted transcript of his testimony. “There was a conversation with Melissa where she told me at one point that she had an emotional romantic relationship with the Governor,” Vlasto said under oath, in a portion of the transcript that was later redacted by the AG’s office. “She said that to me. She said we had an emotionally intimate relationship.”
Vlasto said DeRosa told him that she and the governor “have not had sex and we are not crossing that line or something like that,” according to the transcript. According to Vlasto’s testimony, DeRosa asked him for advice in early March 2021, when she learned the Daily Mail was about to publish a photo of her and Cuomo having an intimate conversation over dinner. Vlasto said the governor’s brother, then-CNN host Chris Cuomo, was also looped in on the conversation.
The group planned to deny the existence of any relationship at the time. And DeRosa was considering whether to continue the relationship, Vlasto said, according to the transcript.
Despite this litany of misconduct, Cuomo has audaciously launched a campaign for New York City mayor. This move has been met with outrage from his accusers and silence from many top Democrats. Lindsey Boylan expressed feelings of betrayal, criticizing party leaders for their lack of condemnation. Cuomo's attempt to rehabilitate his image and return to public office not only disregards the trauma experienced by his victims but also highlights a systemic failure to hold powerful men accountable.
Andrew Cuomo's pattern of sexual misconduct, coupled with his administration's aggressive retaliation against accusers, paints a damning portrait of a leader unfit for public trust. The recent revelations about his relationship with DeRosa further underscore the ethical void that pervaded his tenure. As he seeks to re-enter the political arena, New Yorkers must confront the troubling implications of his candidacy and demand accountability from those who aspire to lead.
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