Former New York governor to testify publicly on COVID-19 investigation before House panel on Sept. 10.
Former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York has agreed to testify publicly before a congressional subcommittee regarding the thousands of deaths that occurred in the state’s nursing homes during the coronavirus pandemic. The hearing is scheduled for September 10, as announced by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Representative Brad Wenstrup, the subcommittee’s chairman, emphasized the importance of Mr. Cuomo providing answers to the families who lost loved ones in New York’s nursing homes during the Covid-19 crisis. This hearing will give Americans the opportunity to hear directly from the governor about the policies that may have led to these tragic outcomes.
This upcoming testimony will mark the second time Mr. Cuomo faces questioning by House Republicans. In June, he testified for seven hours behind closed doors after being subpoenaed. Lawmakers raised concerns about a directive issued by the state’s Health Department in March 2020, which required nursing homes to accept coronavirus patients from hospitals. This decision contributed to the rapid spread of the virus in nursing homes, resulting in over 15,000 deaths by June 2021.
During the previous closed-door testimony, Mr. Cuomo was criticized for his apparent lack of remorse and insensitivity towards the lives lost. He shifted blame to the Trump administration, stating that the federal government’s handling of the pandemic was inadequate. Mr. Cuomo defended the state’s Health Department, claiming they had followed federal guidance, but expressed regret that he had not questioned the federal government’s directives sooner.
A state-commissioned report recently examined Mr. Cuomo’s response to the pandemic, concluding that while there were criticisms, the governor was not directly at fault for the nursing home deaths. The report highlighted that the nursing home death rates in New York were in line with national trends.
The subcommittee has also conducted interviews with several high-ranking officials from the Cuomo administration as part of their investigation into the handling of the pandemic. This hearing will provide further insight into the decision-making processes and actions taken during the crisis.
Source: The NY Times
