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Disgraced & Defiant: Andrew Cuomo’s Toxic Legacy of Harassment, Retaliation, and Deception
Did Cuomo’s Top Aide, Melissa DeRosa Helped Enable a Culture of Harassment and Retaliation?
March 27, 2025
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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. 

 

According to explosive testimony, Andrew Cuomo and his then-married top aide, Melissa DeRosa, were involved in an "emotional romantic relationship" during his tenure as New York governor.

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. 

As secretary to the governor, Melissa DeRosa pictured here at a 2018 press conference was Gov. Andrew Cuomo's top aide until his August 2021 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.

 

Vlasto testified about DeRosa telling him about a photo of of her and Cuomo getting published by the Daily Mail.

 

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's explosive testimony reveals that Andrew Cuomo and his top aide, Melissa DeRosa, who was married at the time, had an "emotional romantic relationship" while he served as New York governor.

 

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.

 

A previously redacted transcript of Vlasto’s testimony showing him say that DeRosa said she and the governor had an “emotionally intimate connection."

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 and his then-married aide, Melissa DeRosa, allegedly had an 'emotional romantic relationship' during his time as New York governor, according to the unredacted testimony.

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.

Trash Media Group © 2025

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Jefferson County Police Blotter 07/30/25

Watertown Police Blotter
July 22–30, 2025

July 22

Andrew Brian Bourget, 26, 724 Myrtle Ave., Watertown — Arrested at 720 Myrtle Ave. and charged with endangering the welfare of a child (Class A misdemeanor) after allegedly leaving a 2‑year‑old unsupervised for over 43 minutes. Issued an appearance ticket for Aug. 14 in Watertown City Court.

July 28

Charles John Johnson, [age not provided], Watertown — Arrested at 482 Thompson Blvd. and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration (VTL 512). Ticket returnable Aug. 11 in Watertown City Court.

July 29

Dariyon Montre Hodges, [age not provided], Watertown — Charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle 2nd (VTL 511‑02a1). Released on an appearance ticket for Aug. 12 in Watertown City Court.

Robert Roger Fayette, 46, 611 Addison St., Watertown — Arrested at 187 E St. and charged with fourth‑degree criminal mischief (Class A misdemeanor) after allegedly damaging a \$150 Ring Doorbell camera. Processed and released; ...

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Watertown City Police Arrests – July 8–16, 2025

Watertown City Police Arrests – July 8–16, 2025

Cathleen Irene Howard (55) – Arrested July 12 at Kinney Drugs, Coffeen St., for Petit Larceny after allegedly stealing \$16.24 worth of merchandise. Released with an appearance ticket for July 28.

Erica Marie Hallisey (45) – Arrested July 14 at First Baptist Church, State St., for Unlawful Possession of Noxious Matter after allegedly inhaling “Dust Off” in public and rendering herself unconscious. Released with an appearance ticket for July 28.

Thomas Henry Folsom (40) – Arrested July 12 at Franklin St. for Disorderly Conduct: Obstructing Traffic (PL 240.20) after allegedly blocking traffic and yelling at motorists. Released with an appearance ticket for July 31.

Megan Elizabeth Dryden (40) – Arrested July 8 at Mo's Diner, Factory St., for Theft of Services after allegedly failing to pay \$32.36 for food. Released with an appearance ticket for July 28.

Paul John Avallone (67) – Arrested July 15 on Polk St. for Failure to Register Social ...

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Watertown Police Department Arrests July 8, 2025

Watertown Police Department Arrests July 8, 2025

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Name: Ricky Hans Pierce, 56
Address: 522 Emerson St, Watertown, NY
Charges:
Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree (Class E Felony)** – On May 29 at approximately 1:30 a.m., Pierce allegedly damaged property valued at \$1,379.75 at Aminomax LLC, 810 Waterman Dr, including forced entry into bait boxes, a mailbox, and a laboratory drop box.
Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree (Class A Misdemeanor)
Attempted Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree (Class B Misdemeanor) – On July 7 at approximately 9:26 p.m., officers responded to a residence at 538 Emerson St for a reported disturbance. Pierce allegedly attempted to break into a residence by shattering a window, screen, and blinds after being told not to enter.


Name: Charles William Howard Jr., 57
Address: 140 N Meadow St, Apt 3, Watertown, NY
Charge:
Menacing in the 3rd Degree (Class B Misdemeanor) – On July 5 at approximately 10:38 p.m., officers were called to the defendant’s residence for a ...

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Jefferson County Police Blotter 07/28/25

WATERTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICE BLOTTER
Date: July 28, 2025

Frank Joseph Guice, 57, of Watertown, NY
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Brianna Marie Watts-Chainey, 37, homeless
Arrested at 5:20 p.m. on July 25 at 427 Flower Ave E for Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree. Police say she unlawfully entered a closed garage on private property. Released with an appearance ticket returnable August 14.


Stephen William Tucker, 54, homeless
Arrested at 5:20 p.m. on July 25 at 427 Flower Ave E for Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree and False Personation. Tucker allegedly entered the same garage unlawfully and then gave officers a false name and date of birth. Released with an appearance ticket returnable August 14.


Hamed Saleh-Ali Hamed, 24, of Watertown, NY
Arrested at 10:50 p.m. on July 25 at 430 Factory St. (7-Eleven) for Disorderly Conduct. Accused of causing public alarm by yelling in the parking lot. Released with an appearance ticket.


Khalid Mekhi Baylor, 25, of Monroe, NY
Arrested at 2:12 a.m. on July 26 at Public Square for Disorderly Conduct. Police allege Baylor engaged in violent, threatening behavior, yelling at a bystander and a police officer. Released with an appearance ticket for August 14.


Erik Allan Massey, 38, of Watertown, NY
Arrested at 12:37 p.m. on July 27 at 308 Creekwood Dr. for Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree and Criminal Contempt 2nd Degree. Massey allegedly violated an active order of protection by entering the bedroom of his ex-girlfriend during a domestic incident. Held for arraignment in CAP Court.


Matthew Hobart Lynch, 44, homeless
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Richard Scott Frizzell, 21, of Watertown, NY
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Amber Lee Burns, 34, homeless
Arrested at 7:00 a.m. on July 25 for Trespass, a violation. Police say she entered and remained unlawfully at an undisclosed location. Released with an appearance ticket returnable August 14.


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Jordan James DeMarco Miller, 19, Fort Drum, NY
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Noah David Jermyn‑Sanchez, 26, Rochester, NY
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Joseph James Martin, 24, Watertown, NY
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Unnamed Male, Age Withheld, Hastings, NY
Troopers responded to a report of an unattended death at 6:59 AM in the Town of Hastings. The cause was determined to be natural. Investigation remains open pending documentation.


Trash Media Group 2025

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Watertown Police Department – Arrest Blotter - 07/25/25

Kyle Michael Matthews, 31
Charge: Grand Larceny 3rd Degree (Class D Felony)
Details:Arrested at 4:45 AM at 200 W Main St. Matthews, listed as homeless, allegedly stole a 2015 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R motorcycle valued at \$9,000 from 233 Mill Street.
Court: Arraigned in Watertown City Court at 9:00 AM
Arresting Officer: Sereenah C. George

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Brooklynn Marie Batsford
Charge: Bench Warrant – Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree (Class D Felony)
Details: Arrested by NYSP on 07/23/2025. Allegedly found with a weapon despite prior convictions.
Status: Held for arraignment

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 Aaron Loomis Rutter, 39
Charges:

 Assault 2nd Degree (Class D Felony)
 Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree (Class D Felony)
 Details: Arrested at 11:51 PM on 07/24/2025 at 908 Superior St. Accused of striking a victim in the head with a plastic lock sheet holder causing injury.
 Court: Arraigned in Watertown City Court
 Arresting Officer: Hayley E. Maguire

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Billy Joe Barnett-Martin
Charges:

Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 3rd Degree
Operating Without Insurance

 Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign
  Details: Stopped on 07/24/2025 at 8:18 PM. Released with three UTTs.
  Return Court Date: August 12, 2025
  Location: Watertown
  Officers: Joshua M. O’Hearn, Joseph Giaquinto

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Amanda Lynn Serrano, 42
Charges:

Criminal Mischief 4th Degree (Class A Misdemeanor)
Harassment 2nd Degree (Violation)
 Details: Arrested on 07/14/2025 at 4:45 PM at 1011 Huntington St. Accused of damaging property worth \$160 and physically assaulting another person during a domestic incident.
  Arresting Officer: Virginia K. Sherrill

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Broken Promises and Shattered Trust: How VShojo Collapsed in Scandal and Betrayal

By Atticus Trash | Trash Media Group


What started as one of VTubing’s boldest experiments—a talent-first agency built on freedom and transparency—has ended in disgrace, bankruptcy, and legal questions that could shake the industry. VShojo, once celebrated for putting creators first, now stands accused of withholding over $500,000 in charity funds, failing to pay its own talent, and leaving fans and vendors out thousands of dollars on unfulfilled merchandise orders.

The collapse didn’t happen overnight. It’s a story of broken promises, mismanagement, and a desperate gamble that turned into the most explosive scandal VTubing has ever seen.

VShojo launched in 2020 with a unique pitch: unlike other agencies that owned talent IP and dictated every move, VShojo promised freedom and fair pay. Its CEO, Justin “Gunrun” Ignacio, a Twitch founding engineer, sold creators on transparency and trust.

For years, it worked—or at least it looked like it did. Talent rosters grew, conventions featured VShojo panels, and collaborations with major brands made headlines. But the seeds of collapse were planted in September 2024, when VShojo’s brightest star, Ironmouse, decided to break records for a cause close to her heart.

On September 2, 2024, Ironmouse launched a marathon Twitch subathon that would shatter all records: over 300,000 subscriptions, millions of views, and a tidal wave of community goodwill. But this wasn’t just a personal milestone.

It was pitched as a charity event. Half of all revenue from the subathon would go to the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF)—a cause deeply personal to Ironmouse, who has lived her entire adult life battling a severe immune disorder.


 

The promise wasn’t rumor—it came straight from VShojo leadership:

“Half of the streaming revenue during the Subathon will be donated.” — Justin Ignacio, CEO of VShojo

 

 


This public commitment set the tone for the entire campaign. Fans subscribed, donated, and spread the word, believing they were funding a life-saving mission.

The final tally? More than $500,000 promised to IDF.

But over a year later, the IDF hadn’t seen a dime.

On July 21, 2025, Ironmouse announced her immediate departure from VShojo in a heartbreaking statement, citing “broken trust” and confirming that the promised charity donation was never delivered.


                                         

Her words were blunt:

“I cannot continue to be part of an organization that has withheld funds raised for a charity so close to my heart.”

 


Fans were stunned. Other VShojo talents began quietly removing branding from their profiles. Rumors of NDAs and unpaid wages poured in. And then the dam broke.

Two days later, Justin Ignacio released a statement admitting full responsibility for VShojo’s failure and announcing the company’s shutdown.

 


“I acknowledge that some of the money spent by the company was raised in connection with talent activity, which I later learned was intended for a charitable initiative… At the time, we were working hard to raise additional investment capital

to cover our costs… We were unsuccessful.”

 


But here’s the problem: Justin knew. The receipts don’t lie. That October tweet promising charity wasn’t a misinterpretation. It was a deliberate, public pledge.

This isn’t just bad optics—it’s potential misappropriation of charitable funds, a serious legal and ethical violation.

As more creators broke silence, a grim picture emerged:

Kson: unpaid since September 2024.

Projekt Melody, Zentreya, Haruka Karibu, GEEGA, Henya: reported late or missing payments, forced silence under strict NDAs.

VeiBae: exposed internal secrets after NDAs collapsed, confirming a toxic, financially desperate environment.

What started as one person’s fight for accountability became a mass exodus.

If you thought it ended there, think again. Enter MKRO + Infinikey, the companies behind VShojo’s high-end keyboard collabs. Their July 24 statement revealed a new layer of the scandal:

 


“All sales and transactions were managed exclusively through the VShojo store… At this time, we have not received an order from VShojo and are actively working to gain clarity.”


 

Translation: VShojo took fan money for merch, never paid the vendor, and never delivered product details. This includes:

Pre-orders for Projekt Melody and Henya keycap sets.

Earlier in-stock sales for Ironmouse, Zentreya, and Haruka—likely including anime convention sales.

Fans are now scrambling for refunds, with many turning to chargebacks. This isn’t just mismanagement—it’s edging into consumer fraud territory.

By July 25, it was over. VShojo formally announced it was shutting down, citing lack of funds after burning through $11 million in investment.

 


Justin’s final words to the community?

   “I am deeply sorry… You did not deserve this.”

 


But apologies can’t erase the fact that talents were unpaid, fans were left hanging, and charity funds never reached their destination.

Justin’s Oct 2024 Tweet: Promises half of Ironmouse’s subathon revenue to IDF.

Justin’s July 2025 Shutdown Statement: Claims he only “later learned” funds were for charity.

Both can’t be true. And the timeline suggests something worse: VShojo used earmarked donations as a last-ditch lifeline to keep the lights on.

So what comes next for Vshojo now that operations have ceased?

Legal Trouble: Misuse of charitable funds can trigger state AG investigations and lawsuits.

Civil Liability: Fans and vendors may pursue action for unfulfilled merch orders.

Industry Impact: Sponsors will rethink deals. Creators will demand transparency—and agencies will face scrutiny like never before.

Meanwhile, Ironmouse has raised over $1 million for IDF through a new Tiltify campaign—proving the community’s faith in creators, even as agencies fail them.

 


Donations continue to flood into ironmouse's charity page, the proceeds going to the Immune Deficiency Foundation.

 

VShojo promised a revolution. Instead, it delivered the biggest betrayal VTubing has ever seen. Let this be the warning: without transparency and accountability, even the brightest stars can be dragged into darkness.


Trash Media Group © 2025

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