Fox News has announced it is picking up Melissa DeRosa as a new contributor. She was a top aide to former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Her role includes appearing on network programs and joining a new podcast called “the Girls”. The show debuts on October 1.
The premiere lineup features Rachel Campos-Duffy, Harris Faulkner, Kat Timpf, and Samantha Ponder. According to RedState, Fox’s announcement labels DeRosa merely as a “veteran democratic strategist”. The report notes she held the distinction of being the state’s first woman to serve as secretary to the governor. This hiring comes after she served in Cuomo’s administration until resigning in August 2021. That resignation followed allegations that the governor sexually harassed employees.
Just a reminder: Melissa DeRosa helped smear the women who came forward about Andrew Cuomo’s harassment, and played a hand in undercounting nursing home deaths during COVID. Also tried to silence my advocacy.
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) September 28, 2026
DeRosa was a central figure in a scandal about how New York reported nursing home deaths. In February 2021, she spoke privately with Democratic state lawmakers about missing data. RedState reports she stated officials worried released information might be used against them by the Trump administration’s Justice Department. DeRosa admitted on a conference call that the administration covered up the number of deaths. They worried the scandal would be politicized by then-President Donald Trump.
The New York Post quotes DeRosa saying, “He starts tweeting that we killed everyone in nursing homes,” according to The Daily Caller. She told lawmakers, “We were in a position where we weren’t sure if what we were going to give to the Department of Justice, or what we give to you guys, what we start saying, was going to be used against us while we weren’t sure if there was going to be an investigation”. She added, “I do understand the position that you were put in. I know that it is not fair. The Daily Caller quotes her saying, “It was not our intention to put you in that political position with the Republicans.
Excited to officially join the @FoxNews team as a contributor and be part of “The Girls,” a new digital show and podcast bringing together unique female voices and perspectives across news, politics, sports, comedy, & culture.
Our first episode drops October 1 across FOX News…
— Melissa DeRosa (@melissadderosa) September 28, 2026
Critics are asking how a network can hire someone who admitted to hiding death counts. One person on social media noted, “Just a reminder: Melissa DeRosa helped smear the women who came forward about Andrew Cuomo’s harassment, and played a hand in undercounting nursing home deaths during COVID”.
Another voice pointed out, “Also tried to silence my advocacy”. The network faces questions about who decided to bring her on board. RedState reported that the decision has drawn sharp criticism from conservatives. The Daily Caller noted the specific details of her past role and her own words. It remains unclear if the network knew the full scope of her admissions before hiring her.
Give it a rest, @ZohranKMamdani.
Everyone knows exactly where you stand, which is why you still can’t bring yourself to denounce the disgusting, vile phrase “globalize the intifada,” and why it took you over 24 hours to denounce Hamas: a terrorist organization funded by Iran.… https://t.co/vSRSXSVYgE
— Melissa DeRosa (@melissadderosa) January 12, 2026
The facts are clear from the reporting. DeRosa admitted she helped cover up data to avoid political attacks. She stated she feared the Justice Department would launch a probe. Now she will appear on Fox News starting in October. The network lists her as a “veteran democratic strategist”.
No further details on her contract or specific show times are in the reports yet. The only date confirmed is the podcast launch on October 1. Readers can watch to see how she handles questions about the nursing home scandal. The record shows she told lawmakers the cover-up was not her intention to hurt them politically. Yet the data was still withheld from the public.
