Ex-con who calls himself a 'journalist and motivational speaker' is arrested for 'threatening to "slice" Gov Cuomo's top aide, 38, and calling her a murderer in chilling calls to her cell after months of vile Twitter abuse'

An ex con has been arrested after allegedly threatening to 'slice' New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's top aide and calling her a murderer in chilling calls to her cell.  

Gary Goldstein, who calls himself a 'journalist and motivational speaker', is also said to have spent months sending vile Twitter abuse to Melissa DeRosa before making his sinister threats over the phone this weekend. 

The convicted robber, who was jailed for six years in the late 1990s, is said to have told DeRosa: 'Melissa DeRosa, you c***! I'm gonna slice your p**** you murderer, do you hear me?'

He was arrested on aggravated harassment charges over the weekend and is being held while awaiting arraignment, The New York Post reports. 

A source told the paper that DeRosa, 38, has called the situation 'a little bit unnerving'. She is said to be seeking an order of protection. 

DeRosa, 38, has been highly visible in recent months as part of Cuomo's coronavirus response team. She has joined the New York governor at his daily briefings regularly. 

Gary Goldstein, left, is said to have spent months sending vile Twitter abuse to Melissa DeRosa, right, before making his sinister threats over the phone this weekend

Goldstein, who claims to have worked at CBS, NBC and the Post on LinkedIn, is said to have lived in Brooklyn with his mother until she moved to a nursing home ten years ago.  

While Cuomo was praised by some in the early days of the pandemic for his calming briefings, he has also been criticized heavily for the high number of deaths at New York nursing homes. 

The convicted robber, who was jailed for six years in the late 1990s, is said to have told DeRosa: 'Melissa DeRosa: 'I'm gonna slice your p**** you murderer, do you hear me?'

He has faced increasing criticism, particularly a controversial March 25 order that sent thousands of recovering COVID-19 patients from hospitals into nursing homes at the height of the pandemic.  That order was reversed in May.  

It is not known if this is directly linked to Goldstein's threats to DeRosa but he appears to have regularly posted about Cuomo's response to the pandemic online. 

In one post Goldstein wrote: 'Just about EVERYONE knows what a piece of garbage this corrupt murderer, #KillerCuomo is now!'  

In another he added: 'I'm thrilled to announce that Janice Dean, and many others in the media who aren't intimidated by you, will never stop holding you under the fire for murdering over 12,000 innocent, elderly nursing home residents, until you, and Dr. Howard Zucker, finally admit what you did, and are held accountable.'

Fox News meteorologist Dean lost both her elderly in-laws to the virus. 

Dean said that her mother- and father-in-law, Michael and Dolores Newman, both died of COVID-19 after they were exposed to the virus in nursing homes.

After his release from prison Goldstein, who has a long rap sheet back to 1993, wrote a book, Jew in Jail. He now describes himself as an 'addiction and recovery expert' and 'motivational and inspirational speaker'

DeRosa has been highly visible in recent months as part of Cuomo's coronavirus response team. She has joined the governor at his daily briefings regularly. They are pictured in 2017

Goldstein also appears to have regularly posted about Cuomo's virus response

Goldstein's Twitter campaign against DeRosa is thought to have began in August.

A source called their tone 'harassing, aggressive and menacing'.

DeRosa blocked the account before getting a call to her cell phone on Saturday in which the threats were allegedly made. 

After his release from prison Goldstein, who has a long rap sheet back to 1993, wrote a book, Jew in Jail. He now describes himself as an 'addiction and recovery expert' and 'motivational and inspirational speaker'. 

Goldstein's Twitter campaign against DeRosa is thought to have began in August. A source called their tone 'harassing, aggressive and menacing'