To resign

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's closest aide Melissa Derosa has resigned after prosecutors found evidence of sexual harassment by the state chief.

Melissa Derosa said: "It has been an honour to serve the people of my hometown for 10 years". "I would like to say that the last two years have been very difficult emotionally as well as mentally. I will be grateful for such an opportunity to work with such talented as well as dedicated people in the state administration," she added.

New York Post sources do not rule out that Derosa's decision could be followed by a number of other resignations in the state chief's administration.

Derosa had previously come under criticism after she revealed in a private meeting with local Democratic lawmakers on February 10 that state authorities had prevented the release of data on the true number of COVID-19 victims in nursing homes last spring and summer. The FBI and the Brooklyn Borough of New York prosecutor's office have launched a probe against the New York City administration in this connection.

On Tuesday, state Attorney General Letitia James, who like Cuomo is a member of the Democratic Party, said the investigation found that Cuomo had sexually harassed several girls, including some of his subordinates. The state attorney's office has not yet filed any charges against Cuomo. Several New York lawmakers, the mayor of the eponymous metropolis, Bill de Blasio, as well as US President Joe Biden, have called on the governor to resign. The governor says he has no intention of resigning. He denies the allegations against him.

On Friday, one of the women allegedly harassed by the New York governor was the first to file a criminal complaint against him. The Albany County Sheriff's Office, Craig Apple, is reviewing her claim. The investigation could result in formal criminal charges against the governor.