© AP Photo/Mary Altaffer/FileSecretary to the governor Melissa DeRosa resigned Sunday night.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve the people of New York for the past 10 years," she said in a statement. "New Yorkers' resilience, strength, and optimism through the most difficult times has inspired me everyday. 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."
DeRosa was mentioned 187 times in the 168-page investigative report by Attorney General Letitia James into 11 sexual assault accusations against the three-term governor, which confirmed Cuomo has engaged in "unwanted groping, kissing, hugging and making inappropriate comments," James said.
The report describes how DeRosa — whom Cuomo himself reportedly affectionately referred to as one of his "mean girls" — took an active role in dismissing the accusations from current and former aides against the governor.
DeRosa, 38, is the daughter of Albany lobbyist Giorgio DeRosa. She was first hired by Cuomo in 2013 after working for ex-Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and as the state director for advocacy group Organizing For America.
© James MesserschmidtMelissa DeRosa played a role in trying to suppress Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment scandal.
DeRosa also admitted that she decided to release ex-aide Lindsey Boylan's personnel record, including internal complaints, to certain media outlets in December after she consulted with other staffers on the matter, the investigation found.
DeRosa told investigators she made the decision in response to Boylan's tweets about the governor — including that he was "one of the biggest abusers of all time" — that had gotten "more and more escalating," the report states.
The report additionally found that DeRosa also played a part in circulating a proposed op-ed, originally drafted by Cuomo, that contained "personal and professional attacks" on Boylan, and later sharing it with current and former Executive Chamber employees.
"The draft letter or op-ed attacking Ms. Boylan — particularly when combined with the release of the confidential internal records to the press — constitutes retaliation," the investigators wrote.
Comment: New York AG report: HRC president and Time's Up co-founder helped Cuomo office find dirt on accuser
Investigators also alleged that DeRosa and other top aides, including counsel Judith Mogul and former chief of staff Jill Des Rosiers, dragged their feet on reporting former staffer Charlotte Bennett's complaints to the Governor's Office of Employee Relations, which required an immediate response under state law.
When Bennet first made her accusations, the Executive Chamber made "changes in staffing" so that "they would avoid situations where the Governor might be seen as being in a compromising situation with any woman." But DeRosa and Mogul apparently described the change as "really more for the Governor's protection."
According to the report, DeRosa was enraged at Cuomo following the Bennett accusation, saying, "I can't believe that this happened. I can't believe you put yourself in a situation where you would be having any version of this conversation," DeRosa apparently told him, before getting out of the governor's car when it stopped at a traffic light.
In another instance, DeRosa — who serves as Cuomo's "Chairwoman of the New York State Council on Women & Girls" — tried to dismiss reporting about a state trooper who accused the governor of sexually harassing her as a case of sexism, according to the report.
She has been described to The Post by former co-workers as a merciless person who created a toxic work environment.
"She is a ruthless, heartless, evil human being who will rip your heart out in order to get what she wants," the source said.
"She doesn't have time for niceties. She doesn't have time to get to know you as a person. You are either an individual who gets something done for her — or you're in her way."
Another source close to the governor's office said: "The only person with more enemies than Andy is Melissa."
DeRosa did not return a request for comment from The Post. A spokesman for the governor did not return a request for comment on DeRosa's departure Sunday night.
Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing and suggested he was the target of a political hit job.
Comment: Harassment wasn't the only thing DeRosa helped cover up: