Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to testify before Congress regarding his COVID pandemic response, particularly his controversial policy that forced nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients. The Republican-led Select Committee on the coronavirus pandemic has released preliminary findings from its investigation into Cuomo's actions during the pandemic.
The committee's report attributes the directive issued by Cuomo on March 25, 2020, as a key factor in exposing vulnerable nursing home populations to COVID-19. It also alleges that Cuomo personally edited a July 2020 New York Health Department report to shift blame for COVID-19 deaths onto nursing home staff infections rather than his office's directive.
Furthermore, the report accuses Cuomo's office of downplaying the severity of the nursing home COVID crisis by omitting out-of-facility deaths from the official count. The Subcommittee Chair, Brad Wenstrup, has emphasized that Cuomo owes answers to the families of the 15,000 individuals who lost their lives in New York's nursing homes during the pandemic.
Despite the allegations, Cuomo denies issuing the March 25th directive and editing the July 2020 report. He has instead shifted blame to former President Trump, claiming that the accusations against him are revisionist and lack factual basis.
This testimony marks the first time Cuomo will be questioned publicly under oath regarding these matters. The investigation, based on 10 transcribed interviews, including one with Cuomo himself, sheds light on the controversies surrounding his handling of the pandemic in New York.
As Cuomo faces scrutiny over his pandemic response, there are speculations about his potential mayoral ambitions in New York City, with rumors suggesting he may challenge Mayor Adams. The outcome of his testimony before Congress is anticipated to have significant implications for Cuomo's political future and public perception.
