Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has agreed to testify before Congress about his controversial nursing home advisory from the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Rep. Brad Wenstrup announced that Cuomo will testify on June 11 in a transcribed interview before the select Subcommittee on the Pandemic. Lawmakers are interested in questioning Cuomo about the March 2020 advisory, which prohibited nursing homes from rejecting patients with a Covid-19 diagnosis. Wenstrup, a doctor himself, expressed concern about the decision, stating that it goes against medical common sense.
In a letter to Cuomo dated March 5 and sent with the subpoena, Wenstrup criticized the governor for admitting thousands of Covid-19 positive patients into nursing homes, leading to deadly consequences for vulnerable residents. The committee had been trying to reach out to Cuomo for approximately nine months, but they were ignored on many requests and faced delays. Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, responded by stating that Cuomo had agreed to testify months ago, but the committee clarified that they only received confirmation of the interview date two days prior.
Cuomo has defended his advisory by citing guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, his upcoming testimony indicates ongoing scrutiny of his handling of long-term care facilities during the pandemic. The voluntary agreement for a transcribed interview means that Cuomo will have to tell the truth to Congress during the proceedings. Investigations by the New York Attorney General and State Comptroller found that Cuomo’s administration undercounted Covid-19 deaths among nursing home residents.
When asked about evidence of a cover-up, Wenstrup mentioned that Cuomo will have the opportunity to deny any wrongdoing during his testimony. In 2021, CNN’s KFile reported that Cuomo downplayed discrepancies in nursing home data during his daily press conferences in spring 2020. The select Subcommittee on the Pandemic will also hear from Cuomo’s former secretary Melissa DeRosa and former commissioner of the New York State Department of Health Dr. Howard Zucker. Cuomo resigned as governor in August 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment by 11 women, as detailed in a report by the New York Attorney General’s office.
In summary, the upcoming testimony by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo before Congress regarding his nursing home advisory during the Covid-19 pandemic signifies continued scrutiny over his administration’s handling of long-term care facilities. The transcribed interview will require Cuomo to provide truthful answers to questions about the decision to admit Covid-19 positive patients into nursing homes. Investigations by state officials have revealed undercounting of Covid-19 deaths among nursing home residents, leading to concerns about transparency and accountability. Cuomo’s appearance before lawmakers presents an opportunity for him to address allegations of a cover-up and defend his actions during the pandemic.
