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Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will sit for a listening to Sept. 10 earlier than the congressional subcommittee tasked with probing the coronavirus pandemic, the panel introduced Tuesday.
Cuomo, probably the most seen governors through the top of the pandemic, was lambasted for implementing stringent social and financial restrictions all through the Empire State.
He additionally was blamed for 1000’s of COVID-related deaths that occurred in nursing properties, which a 2023 report from the NYS Division of Well being calculated to be 826 in Suffolk County, 813 in Erie County – which incorporates Buffalo — and 623 in Queens County.
“Mr. Cuomo might be questioned about his Administration’s issuance of unscientific steering that compelled New York nursing properties and long-term care amenities to confess COVID-19 optimistic sufferers,” an announcement for the listening to learn.
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Former New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. (Getty Pictures)
Cuomo, a Democrat, beforehand sat for a seven-hour transcribed interview with the subcommittee. The panel additionally interviewed Cuomo’s former secretary, Melissa DeRosa, and then-NYS Well being Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., a Staten Island lawmaker who sits on the subcommittee, stated in an interview Tuesday that Cuomo nonetheless refuses to take accountability for his orders and their repercussions.
She recounted how nobody in Albany might level to precisely the place the order partitioning nursing dwelling sufferers got here from.
“We nonetheless do not know who permitted that directive as a result of the governor saying he did not find out about it, he is claiming that [Zucker] knew about it earlier than it went out. And but by some means they have been unable to establish who the individual was that permitted it and issued it, which is so negligent for a directive like that to exit with out the well being commissioner approving it at minimal,” she stated.
The New York lawmaker additionally pointed to then-President Donald Trump dispatching a navy medical ship to New York Harbor, the Jacob Javits Middle, and the provision of a psychological hospital in her district for the needs of treating and partitioning critical COVID-19 sufferers.
“They weren’t getting used. So why you’ve gotten that directive in place, forcing the nursing dwelling to take the COVID optimistic sufferers, even if you had alternate options? That was an enormous failure as a result of at that time he was very clear about this directive.”
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Consultant Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican from New York, might be one of many lawmakers questioning former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo subsequent week. (Susan Walsh/AP Photograph/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures)
When requested how individuals in her district really feel concerning the state of affairs, Malliotakis stated many had misplaced family members through the pandemic from “preventable deaths.”
“They have been a results of placing COVID-positive sufferers in nursing properties. And that was primarily based on a directive and mandate by the Cuomo administration. And the buck stops with him, and he must be held accountable,” she stated.
“[He blamed] everyone however himself. No apology, no accountability. No regret… the general public deserves solutions, and we will push for them at this listening to.”
Nonetheless, a Cuomo spokesman instructed Fox Information Digital, “the details communicate for themselves” in terms of the previous governor’s dealing with of COVID, calling congressional Republicans’ oversight a “grasp class in gaslighting.”
“New York had a decrease nursing dwelling demise pro-rata than all however 11 states,” stated Wealthy Azzopardi.
The New York Capitol constructing is seen, June 30, 2023, in Albany, New York. (AP Photograph/Ted Shaffrey, File)
Azzopardi known as the committee a “farce” and criticized it for being comprised of a “foot physician” – referring to Chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, — “Trump’s private doctor” – former White Home physician; present Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, and “a consultant with a Ph.D. in QAnon,” in regard to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.,
“[The committee] refuse[s] to look within the mirror at their very own anti-science insurance policies that prompted a whole lot of 1000’s of pointless deaths or name the one witness who’s most related and was supposed to steer your entire effort: Donald Trump,” Azzopardi stated.
Whereas in workplace, Cuomo was at occasions questioned by the press on the matter. In a single notable alternate throughout a July 2020 press convention, the governor was requested a few state report on nursing properties and why an impartial investigator was not appointed.
“I don’t imagine your characterization is right – I imagine it’s a political problem,” Cuomo shot again on the reporter.
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Cuomo then went on in charge the New York Put up and Fox Information, in addition to political motivations, for the difficulty’s prominence.
“Folks died in nursing properties. That’s very unlucky. Simply on the topline, we’re quantity thirty fifth within the nation in share of deaths in nursing properties. Go discuss to 34 different states first.”
Cuomo was additionally criticized for interviews through the pandemic along with his brother, Chris, on CNN. In a single alternate, the siblings shared fun after Chris brandished two comically-large nasal swabs to recommend Andrew has exceptionally giant nostrils.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox Information Digital.
He joined Fox Information in 2013 as a author and manufacturing assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and tradition for Fox Information Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple College with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story ideas might be despatched to [email protected].
