Enraged households of COVID-19 victims are calling for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to face costs after just lately surfaced emails contradicted what he informed a congressional panel about nursing dwelling deaths.
Peter Arbeeny, Vivian Zayas, and Janice Dean are asking the US Division of Justice to probe Cuomo, arguing he lied to congressional investigators a couple of state report that lowballed deaths in nursing houses on the peak of the pandemic.
Cuomo had initially claimed he had not seen the report, however a bombshell new report appeared to indicate that he not solely knew concerning the report however had edited it himself.
“We name on the Division of Justice to launch a full and truthful investigation into Andrew Cuomo’s statements to Congress, his coordination with different witnesses and his function in overlaying up the nursing dwelling dying toll,” the trio wrote in a press release, obtained by The Submit
“Whether it is discovered that he knowingly misled Congress and the American individuals or interfered with the congressional inquiry, he have to be held accountable below the regulation,” the assertion went on. “The households who misplaced family members deserve the reality, and the general public deserves to know that nobody is above the regulation, particularly these entrusted with public workplace.”
In June, Cuomo had downplayed any involvement in a state Division of Well being report launched in July 2020 that undercounted the variety of nursing dwelling deaths when questioned by the Home Choose Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.
However uncovered emails in a New York Occasions report confirmed that Cuomo had been suggesting edits to the report previous to its launch, inserting language that blamed nursing dwelling workers and visiting households for spreading the virus and contributing to the deaths.
A Cuomo spokesperson mentioned the most recent criticism was politicizing the pandemic. He additionally asserted that Cuomo had later informed Home investigators throughout the identical interview that he didn’t recall the small print of the encircling modifying the report.
“We’re gone the purpose of absurd,” Cuomo spokesperson Wealthy Azzopardi informed The Submit in a press release Sunday.
Azzopardi emphasised that Cuomo’s has been cooperative with the Home investigation.
“We sympathize with each one of many 1 million-plus households who misplaced family members, however the continued makes an attempt to purposefully distort and politically weaponize this pandemic are each clear and unhappy.”
Cuomo hadn’t been sworn in below oath for his testimony, however officers informed him he could possibly be prosecuted if he knowingly made false statements, in response to a transcript of the closed-doors session.
Democratic politicians additionally referred to as on Cuomo to face extra accountability.
“I’ve stood with the households of nursing houses and can proceed to face with them to carry the previous governor accountable,” mentioned Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens) an outspoken Cuomo critic.
“Andrew Cuomo has constantly lied and gaslit the general public in pursuit of his e-book deal and political ambitions,” Kim added. “Now, we should maintain him accountable and seize this chance to repair our damaged long-term care system.”
Metropolis Councilman Lincoln Restler wrote in a press release mentioned it was clear Cuomo’s testimony earlier than the Home was “deceptive and inaccurate.”
“Again and again, he reveals himself to be somebody New Yorkers can not belief and who doesn’t belong in public workplace,” Restler mentioned.