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(CNN)New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's top aide Melissa DeRosa resigned late
Sunday, less than a week after the release of a report from the state
attorney general that found Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women.

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve the people of New York
for the past 10 years. New Yorkers' resilience, strength, and optimism
through the most difficult times has inspired me every day," DeRosa
secretary to the governor said in a statement obtained by CNN.

"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," she said in the message, which did not mention Cuomo.

DeRosa's resignation comes on the eve of a meeting of the state Assembly's Judiciary Committee that could deliver a timeline for Cuomo's potential impeachment. The 38-year-old, who held the highest-ranking appointed
position in the state, appeared throughout New York State Attorney General Letitia James' August 3 report, in which investigators concluded that
Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women, including current and former state
employees. The report detailed a "toxic" workplace environment under Cuomo
and said that environment allowed for his allegedly harassing behavior to
go overlooked. It also highlighted alleged instances of retaliation
against at least one accuser.

Cuomo has denied the allegations, saying last week that he "never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances."
In February, DeRosa came under scrutiny for her role in the
administration's underreporting of Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes last
year.

In a private virtual conversation with lawmakers, DeRosa said the administration had not provided them with information requested months
earlier because Cuomo's team had been concerned about a preliminary
inquiry from former President Donald Trump's Department of Justice,
according to a transcript of the conversation that was subsequently
released by the governor's office.

"And basically, we froze," DeRosa told Democrats on the call, "because
then we were in a position where we weren't sure if what we were going to
give to the Department of Justice or what we give to you guys, what we
start saying was going to be used against us while we weren't sure if
there was going to be an investigation."

DeRosa accused Trump of turning the nursing home issue into a "political football" and then directing "a political hack" at the Justice Department
to begin an inquiry into New York and other Democratic-led states.
A different report from James' office released in January found that New
York had underreported Covid-19 deaths among residents of nursing homes by approximately 50%.

This story has been updated with additional information.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/08/politics/new-york-governor-cuomo-aide- melissa-derosa-resigns/index.html

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