WASHINGTON (WKBW) — Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning), Rep. Chris Jacobs (R-Orchard Park) along with other members of New York's Republican Congressional Delegation have sent a letter to the Department of Justice, and are requesting subpeonas for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his administration on all documentation and communications related to their nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The letter follows a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James that the attorney general's office was investigating Gov. Cuomo and his administration on the handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes.
“Thousands of New York families who lost a parent or grandparent due to New York’s disastrous nursing home policies deserve nothing less than full transparency and accountability,” said Congressman Reed. “If the Biden administration and their Department of Justice are truly committed to following the spirit of independence and impartiality, they should join with us as we work to further uncover the depths of Governor Cuomo and New York State’s incompetence. It is the only remedy to ensuring such horrific public health mistakes never happens again.”
Congressman Jacobs added, "Attorney General James’ report proved what we have suspected for months. The actions of Governor Cuomo, Commissioner Zucker, and administration officials have obscured the toll of the Governor's mandate forcing COVID-positive patients back into nursing homes with other high-risk elderly individuals. He had a duty to ‘follow the science’ and protect the most vulnerable in our population. Instead, his order can only be categorized as a failure in leadership and a betrayal of public trust. Rather than take responsibility for his actions, and work transparently to correct such a disastrous mistake, Governor Cuomo and his administration have tried to shift blame and obstruct elected officials pursuing the truth. A full and thorough federal investigation into this cover-up must be conducted, and those responsible must be held accountable."
Rich Azzopardi a spokesperson for Gov. Cuomo's office added the following, "It's no surprise this QANON Trump puppet, his treason caucus, and their friends want to talk about anything other than the approaching one month anniversary of the Capitol insurrection that they helped foment and resulted in the death of a police officer. It's a naked ploy and New Yorkers see right through it. Maybe someone should investigate what he and the rest of the Trump enablers knew about the organizing and planning of this riot."
You can read the full letter from the Republican members of New York's delegation by clicking here.
