New York Times Reporter Who Led Cuomo Sexual Harassment Coverage Accused By Ex-Cuomo Aide Of Inappropriate Behavior

AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

New York Times reporter Jesse McKinley, a key reporter in covering the misconduct allegations that brought down former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was accused of inappropriate behavior by a former aide to the governor, according to a new book.

Washington Post writer Erik Wemple obtained a copy of What’s Left Unsaid, a new book by Melissa DeRosa, a top aide to Cuomo during his downfall.

In it, DeRosa claimed McKinley acted inappropriately with her during a meeting at his house. At the time, McKinley served as the Albany bureau chief for the Times and produced reporting that included interviews with women who accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct.

DeRosa’s new book focuses on the various scandals that brought down Cuomo’s political career, including his response to Covid-19 and those allegations of misconduct.

According to DeRosa, in May 2020 Cuomo’s relationship with the press became more confrontational as questions circulated about his response to the pandemic. After a fiery exchange between Cuomo and McKinley at a press conference, DeRosa reached out to the reporter for a meeting to help clear the air.

She visited McKinley at his home where they drank wine in his backyard. She said he drank more than a bottle of wine on his own, and then their conversation took a different turn.

Per the Washington Post:

Conscious of pandemic social distancing, they met in McKinley’s backyard. They also drank, with McKinley downing more than a bottle of wine on his own, according to DeRosa’s book. (She reports that she stopped at two glasses.) Believing that she’d accomplished her goal, DeRosa started gathering her things to go. “Wait, are your eyes blue or green?” McKinley asked. “Blue,” DeRosa replied.

“Are you sure? I think they look green,” said McKinley. With this turn in the conversation, DeRosa decided that it was “absolutely time to go,” as she writes in the book. At that point, she recounts, McKinley grabbed her on the wrist and pulled her toward him. “Don’t go, Melissa. It’s still early. Stay longer,” he implored.

She claims that McKinley kept holding on for a few seconds longer, until she pulled her arm away, gathered her things and “jetted” back through the house and onto the street.

In a statement to Mediaite, a spokesperson for the Times said, “A complaint was made against Jesse McKinley, a New York Times journalist in 2021. An independent, external investigation did not substantiate Ms. DeRosa’s characterization of the events, and McKinley denied the accusation that he grabbed her in any way. Following the investigation, The Times and McKinley agreed that reassignment to a new beat was advisable. We also supported his decision to enter a substance abuse program.”

DeRosa wrote in her book, per the Post, that the Times investigation into McKinley did not interview five people she told of her accusations to at the time.

Four people who worked in the New York executive chamber alongside DeRosa confirmed to the Post that she recounted the story to them at the time. All four told the Post they were not contacted by the Times during their investigation into McKinley.

A Times spokesperson added they are reviewing new allegations against McKinley made in the book.

“Through media queries related to the book, we’ve been made aware of new allegations,” they said. “We take all allegations very seriously and are reviewing the new accounts.”