Families of nursing home residents who died from COVID are urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). This follows the release of emails and congressional documents that suggest Cuomo was involved in altering a report to downplay the number of nursing home deaths during the pandemic.
The families’ letter to the DOJ calls for a full investigation, stating, “The families who lost loved ones deserve the truth.” The letter was signed by several individuals, including Peter Arbeeny, Vivian Zayas, and Janice Dean, all of whom lost family members in nursing homes.
Cuomo has previously claimed in two congressional hearings that he did not review or edit the New York Department of Health report before its release in 2020. However, emails from his assistant show that the report was sent to him for edits. One email from June 2020 reads, “Governor’s edits are attached,” indicating Cuomo may have made changes that downplayed the severity of nursing home deaths.
Zayas, who co-founded the group Voice for Seniors, emphasized the importance of holding Cuomo accountable. “If he lied to Congress, he committed a crime,” she said, adding that the families will continue to pursue justice.
Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, has dismissed the calls for an investigation, claiming that Cuomo followed the CDC’s guidelines and accusing the families of politicizing the issue. Despite this, Democratic officials like Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-NY) have joined the call for Cuomo to face accountability.
