Editing Melissa DeRosa (section)

==Public image==
The ''[[New York Times]]'' described DeRosa as Cuomo's enforcer for "engaging in bare-knuckled political brawling," and said she was "known for delivering blistering tirades" according to then current and former Cuomo advisors.<ref name="Dawsey 2021"/>
	
In April, 2021, ''The New York Times'' reported that dozens of Cuomo employees alleged Cuomo and staff members, including DeRosa, would "scream and curse at subordinates over small stumbles, like misspelling names." Some employees reported crying at the office almost every week due to the toxic environment.<ref name="toxic">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/12/nyregion/cuomo-women-toxic-workplace.html|title=For Some Women, Working for Cuomo Is the 'Worst Place to Be'|first1=Brian M.|last1=Rosenthal|first2=Luis|last2=Ferré-Sadurní|date=March 12, 2021|work=The New York Times}}</ref> DeRosa's role in fueling a toxic workplace also featured in an August 3, 2021 report by the [[New York State Attorney General]] regarding the [[Cuomo sexual harassment allegations]].<ref name="Ferré-Sadurní 2021"/><ref name="Dawsey 2021"/> The report also described DeRosa "pressuring" a former staffer into calling a current staffer who expressed support for an accuser and recording the call as "a fishing expedition on behalf of the executive chamber.”<ref name="retal"/><ref name="Dawsey 2021"/>
	
DeRosa is mentioned 187 times in the report, more than anyone except the governor himself. It portrays DeRosa as "spearheading" the retaliation against [[Lindsey Boylan]] and attempts to discredit her after she made [[Cuomo sexual harassment allegations|sexual harassment allegations against the governor]].<ref name="Dawsey 2021"/><ref name="Niedzwiadek 2021">{{cite news |last1=Niedzwiadek |first1=Nick |last2=Gronewold |first2=Anna |title=All the governor's men — and women |url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2021/08/05/all-the-governors-men-and-women-1389616 |access-date=9 August 2021 |work=Politico |date=August 5, 2021}}</ref><ref name="retal">{{Cite news|last1=Ferré-Sadurní|first1=Luis|last2=Bromwich|first2=Jonah E.|date=2021-08-05|title=How Cuomo and His Team Retaliated Against His Accusers|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/05/nyregion/cuomo-accusers-alphonso-david-roberta-kaplan.html|access-date=2021-08-06|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In a recorded call involving DeRosa and the [[Albany Times Union]], an editor told the governor’s office that the newspaper did not want Boylan's personnel file, but it was sent to them anyway. DeRosa also circulated a letter to current and former staff attacking Boylan and undermining her credibility.<ref name="Dawsey 2021"/><ref name="Ferré-Sadurní 2021"/> DeRosa responded to the depiction of her in the report by saying "Haven’t you heard? Women aren’t allowed to be mad or fight — being tough and direct makes you a 'bitch.'"<ref name="Dawsey 2021"/> 
	
The report revealed a previously unreported accusation of sexual harassment made by a [[New York State Police]] officer, and DeRosa's attempt to kill a news story investigating if state rules were changed so the officer could join the governor's security detail even though she did not meet minimum experience requirements. DeRosa called the story "sexist". <ref name="Dawsey 2021"/> A civil lawsuit against DeRosa arising from alleged retaliation against the officer was dismissed in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Ryan|first1=Stephanie|last2=|first2=|date=2023-09-29|title=Lawsuit against two former Cuomo aides, accusing them of retaliation, dismissed|language=en-US|work= [[WRGB]]|url=https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/lawsuit-against-two-former-cuomo-aides-accusing-them-of-retaliation-dismissed|access-date=2021-08-06|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
	
The report concluded that despite "numerous" claims that arose about the governor's harassment of young female staffers, DeRosa was not depicted as going to lengths to investigate them.<ref name="Dawsey 2021"/>