2 April 2021: Report - Governor Cuomo Begged Aide Who Confirmed COVID Nursing Home Deaths Coverup to Not Resign

Lawmaker claims Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa wanted to resign, but gov ‘begged her to stay’

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s top aide Melissa DeRosa was ready to call it quits on the day it was revealed she admitted the state deliberately withheld the complete coronavirus death toll in nursing homes — but the governor “begged her stay,” a state lawmaker reportedly claims.

“It’s my understanding Melissa wanted to resign February 12 — the day after the scandal broke of her admitting there was an obstruction of justice in her administration,” Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens), citing Capitol sources, told WRGB.

Kim, a vocal Cuomo critic, was referring to damning details reported exclusively by The Post on Feb. 11, wherein DeRosa privately apologized to Democratic lawmakers for covering up the number of COVID-19 deaths among the state’s nursing home residents.

If Melissa DeRosa had more integrity, she would have resigned in disgrace. If Governor Cuomo had more integrity, all his scandals would never have happened.

For its part, Governor Cuomo's administration denies the story and attacks Assemblyman Kim:

“Ron Kim doesn’t know what he is talking about and this is not the first time he’s lied about Melissa,” Azzopardi told The Post in a statement.

“He should be ashamed and stop spreading baseless rumors,” Azzopardi said.

We think that's a new, tone-deaf example of why Governor Cuomo is looking for better PR people and legal help.