Ahead of the second New York City mayoral debate, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has admitted to seeing a report detailing the number of nursing home deaths caused by the coronavirus pandemic. During an interview with PIX 11 News, Cuomo acknowledged that despite previous statements to Congress, he did review the report and may have altered the language within it. However, he maintains that the figures remain accurate, attributing the entire controversy to political manipulation.
Cuomo, who stepped down as New York Governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, remains a leading candidate in the Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City. The admissions come as he faces continued scrutiny over the conduct of his administration during the pandemic, including the handling of nursing home deaths and the potential underreporting of fatalities. His recent remarks have intensified the existing allegations that he mislead Congress about his actions while in office.
During the first mayoral debate, his opponents criticized him for allegedly misrepresenting his responses to Congress. The Trump administration has been investigating these claims, launching a Department of Justice probe into whether Cuomo lied about his decisions during the pandemic. This probe now includes his recent admission to reviewing the report, which some argue undermines his long-held stance that the data was accurate.
Cuomo’s defense included references to federal guidelines, asserting that New York followed the federal medical guidance for nursing homes. He pointed out that New York’s nursing home death rate places it at 38 out of 50 states, a claim that has been met with skepticism by some experts and political critics. As the second debate approaches, his team is likely to face further questions about the report and its potential implications for his campaign.