Investigation into Andrew Cuomo’s Involvement in COVID-19 Nursing Home Deaths
Introduction:
A congressional panel investigating COVID-19 is preparing to question former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding his handling of the pandemic. The panel has already met with relatives of nursing home residents who died during the shutdown, receiving a scathing document that blames Cuomo’s decisions and alleged cover-ups for contributing to COVID-related deaths in nursing homes.
Cuomo’s Multitude of Lies and Misdeeds:
Peter Arbeeny, whose father died from COVID-19 after being released from a Brooklyn nursing home, provided a detailed 121-page timeline of events. Arbeeny, who recently met with House investigators, described Cuomo’s actions as overwhelming lies, manipulations, and misdeeds. The timeline’s preface highlights the infamous $5.2 million book deal as the driving force behind corruption, greed, and betrayal within the state government.
Investigation by the COVID-19 Panel:
The COVID-19 panel, led by Staten Island Representative Nicole Malliotakis, has interviewed other families of COVID victims and state ethics officials involved in the controversy. Last week, they also interviewed Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Malliotakis expressed frustration with Cuomo’s lack of cooperation and emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability for New Yorkers.
Key Questions to be Asked:
The panel aims to address several crucial questions during their interview with Cuomo. They want to know whose idea it was to direct nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals on March 25, 2020, and why this directive remained in place for six weeks despite the clear spread of the virus through nursing homes. They also question why emergency hospitals like the Javits Center and USS Comfort were under-utilized when they had thousands of beds available. Additionally, they are concerned about Cuomo’s decision to write a book about his pandemic response in the midst of the crisis and how this may have impacted his decision-making process. Finally, they seek clarification on the undercounting or misleading of the public regarding nursing home residents who died from COVID-19.
Consultation with Experts:
The panel has consulted experts to gain further insight into the Cuomo administration’s actions. Bill Hammond, a senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center for Public Policy, has issued critical reports on their actions. State ethics officials responsible for reviewing the controversial book deal have also provided their expertise to the panel.
Cuomo’s Response:
Cuomo, who resigned as governor amid sexual harassment allegations, is looking forward to defending his management of the pandemic. His spokesman, Richard Azzopardi, dismissed the congressional hearing as a “MAGA farce” and highlighted previous investigations that found no evidence of wrongdoing. Azzopardi also denied that the March 25 directive caused the death of Arbeeny’s father, pointing out that he was admitted to a nursing home before the directive was issued.
Disputing Undercounting Claims:
Azzopardi disputed claims of undercounting nursing home deaths, stating that New York became one of only eight states to include presumed nursing home deaths in the daily tally. He also mentioned that federal guidelines initially prohibited COVID patients from being treated on the USS Comfort ship, and by the time they reversed this decision, New York had already flattened the curve.
Conclusion:
As the congressional panel investigates Cuomo’s involvement in COVID-19 nursing home deaths, they are seeking answers, transparency, and accountability. The panel’s questions address key concerns regarding Cuomo’s decision-making process and potential cover-ups. By consulting experts and gathering evidence, they aim to provide a thorough examination of Cuomo’s actions during the pandemic.
