Melissa DeRosa, the former chief aide to Andrew Cuomo, is not finished defending her disgraced former boss, as she reveals in her upcoming book, “What’s Left Unsaid: My Life in the Heart of Power, Politics & Crisis.” DeRosa alleges that New York Attorney General Letitia James discredited the initial female accuser of sexual misconduct against Cuomo and expressed reservations about a second accuser.
According to a snippet from the forthcoming memoir, DeRosa claims that James undermined the credibility of Lindsey Boylan, the woman who triggered a wave of allegations against Cuomo, even before the attorney general officially launched her sexual misconduct investigation in early 2021. DeRosa quotes James as saying, “Melissa, I was at an event yesterday, and many people told me that Lindsey Boylan is not a credible accuser.”
In the same excerpt, DeRosa writes that James also raised doubts about the second accuser, Charlotte Bennett, by remarking, “Regarding Charlotte Bennett, it’s just her words.” The timing of this conversation is uncertain, but DeRosa suggests that it occurred shortly after James’ office informed Cuomo’s team that they would be leading the investigation.
DeRosa, who played a pivotal role in attempting to handle Cuomo’s growing sexual harassment scandal, claims that James attempted to reassure her about the impending probe by saying, “Listen, I will speak with you privately, and we will have ongoing communication.”
Boylan initially came forward in early 2021, accusing the now-disgraced governor of unsolicited kissing and proposing a game of strip poker during her tenure as a state economic development official. A week later, Bennett publicly alleged that Cuomo had asked her inappropriate personal questions, indicated his willingness to engage in relationships with women in their twenties, and left her with the impression that he desired a romantic involvement.
Ultimately, in August 2021, James’ office released a damning 165-page report that substantiated the allegations made by Boylan, Bennett, and numerous other women. This report resulted in Cuomo’s resignation and a significant downfall. DeRosa herself resigned from her position just weeks prior to the release of James’ report.
