By Dominic Taylor-
A senior aide to Andrew Cuomo has resigned after a report found the New York governor sexually harassed 11 women.
Melissa DeRosa, who was Mr Cuomo’s secretary, is believed to have tried to cover up the governor’s actions and retaliate against one of his accusers, in an action typical of those close to people in power when under investigation.
In the 168-page report by the state attorney general, Ms DeRosa’s name came up 187 times.
She said in a statement: “Personally, the past two years have been emotionally and mentally trying.
“I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such talented colleagues on behalf of our state.”
Mr Cuomo was found to have groped, kissed, or made suggestive comments to 11 women in violation of the law, prompting prosecutors to launch a criminal investigation and calls for him to resign or be impeached. President Joe Biden has also called for him to quit.
The 63-year-old has so far resisted the calls for him to step down, but he could face impeachment and removal from office by state lawmakers.
As emotions were stirred due to the report, a former employee in Mr Cuomo’s office, known only as “Executive Assistant #1”, told state investigators that he fondled her breast on one occasion.
In a TV statement responding to the attorney general’s report, Mr Cuomo denied all allegations against him and singled out the unnamed employee’s claims, saying: “Another allegation that I groped a woman in my office. That never happened.”
Allegations against Mr Cuomo, who has been governor since 2011, first emerged late last year.
There were multiple claims that he inappropriately touched and sexually harassed women who worked with him or whom he met at public events, but he strongly denied all the allegations against him.
Now, pressure is being put on his brother, Chris Cuomo, who is a news anchor on CNN, to speak up about the allegations by some of the colleagues at his channel.
Brian Stelter, the anchor of CNN’s show “Reliable Sources” on Sunday, said Chris Cuomo has “a lot to say” on the matter, and “should be grilled” about the allegations of sexual harassment against his brother, while adding that CNN has barred him from speaking about it.
“Chris Cuomo has a lot to say, but right now he cannot say it,” Stelter said. “CNN management has made two things clear to him: One, that he can’t talk about his brother, Andrew Cuomo, on TV, and, two, that he cannot participate in any more strategy sessions with the governor’s aides.”
“So, if you’re wondering why Chris has remained silent about the scandal, that is why,” Stelter said.
The scandal has become a “conundrum” for CNN, according to Stelter, where there is “no perfect solution.”
“I think Chris should be asked about all this,” Stelter said on his show “Reliable Sources,” on Sunday. “He should be grilled like anyone else. That’s what numerous staffers at CNN said to me this week.”
“The logic on the part of management is that whatever Chris says about the allegations against his brother will be picked apart,” he said.
“He will be accused of either using his platform to spin for his family or he’ll be accused of betraying his brother. The logic is that he should just stay out of it. He should do the job that the viewers want him to do,” Stetler added.
“Plus, CNN is so much bigger than any one anchor,” he said.
“What really matters most is how CNN as a global news outlet covers the governor’s alleged crimes.”
Chris Cuomo is a likeable member of the CNN team, often exhibiting personable traits on air, and very emotive about the issues he covers. This will be a difficult time for the CNN anchor, who should not really be in this kind of difficult position about allegations not related to his own actions.
It could potentially create a wedge between him and his brother, if it hasn’t already done so. It would be a challenging time for the dynamics of any family.