Long-awaited data reveals that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration withheld thousands of confirmed and presumed Covid-19 deaths at long-term nursing facilities.
Attorney General Letitia James released the report that the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) undercounted at least 50% of coronavirus-related deaths in residential nursing homes.
Gov. Cuomo secretary, Melissa DeRosa is reportedly concerned about the Department of Justice’s preliminary inquiry into COVID deaths in New York nursing homes, and Donald Trump’s past tweets about the entire scandal during his Presidential campaign.
DeRosa claims the administration “froze” because they were unsure about what was being submitted to the DOJ and didn’t want to be held accountable for it.
The New York Post first reported the story, citing an exclusively obtained recording of the meeting.
Legislators pushed the Department of Health to release the complete data related to COVID-19 deaths in Democrat-led states, including New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Andrew Cuomo has been questioned for months about nursing home death tolls but swerved the topic and described it as a “political attack.”
“What I would say is everyone did the best they could. When I say the State Department of Health — as the report said — the State Department of Health followed federal guidance. So, if you think there was a mistake, then go talk to the federal government. It’s not about pointing fingers or blame. It’s that this became a political football right. Look, whether a person died in a hospital or died in a nursing home. It’s – People died. People died,” Governor Cuomo said during a press conference on January 29.
State legislators from both parties swiftly condemned Cuomo’s administration following DeRosa’s apology. Alessandra Biaggi, a Democratic state senator, posted on Twitter, “You’re only sorry that you all got caught. Because of your decisions, thousands of people died who did not have to die. We’re not ‘offended’, Melissa, we’re furious – with extremely good reason.”
State Senate Republican leader Rob Ortt said, “Governor Cuomo and his administration must be investigated from top to bottom and he must be stripped of his emergency powers.” Gov. Cuomo’s senior adviser Rich Azzopardi said in a statement, “We explained that the Trump administration was in the midst of a politically motivated effort” to blame Democratic-led states for Covid-19 deaths, Azzopardi said, and “that we were cooperating with Federal document productions and that was the priority and now that it is over we can address the state legislature. That said, we were working simultaneously to complete the audit of information they were asking for.”
Andrew Cuomo was hailed for his charming, reassuring TV appearances, and virtual link-ups with his brother Chris Cuomo, who is a CNN correspondent. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump discontinued his coronavirus briefings after spreading misinformation and downplaying the deadly respiratory virus. Fans were advocating that he should run for President or take a position in the Biden administration, but this will definitely put a dent in his reputation.
