Disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) sought to “improperly influence” advisers who testified at a congressional investigation into the governor's controversial coronavirus pandemic orders that forced sick patients into nursing homes, according to a House Oversight Committee report.
End 15,000 Coronavirus-related deaths According to Breitbart News, deaths were recorded at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in New York state in 2020 after Governor Cuomo forced those facilities to admit residents who tested positive for the disease. Cuomo's secretary, Melissa DeRosa, also acknowledged that she undercounted the death toll to protect her administration from scrutiny.
The scandal has since become the subject of multiple investigations, including by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, the FBI, and the House Oversight and Reform Committee's Special COVID-19 Subcommittee.
The subcommittee alleged Wednesday that Gov. Cuomo contacted a witness, former aide Jim Malatras, multiple times within 48 hours of the special subcommittee taking specific actions in its nursing home investigation.
“Today, the Select Subcommittee on COVID-19 released new evidence demonstrating that former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo attempted to improperly influence the testimony of a witness before the Select Subcommittee.” press release It was announced.
The subcommittee also called the timeline of Cuomo's communications with Malatras “concerning” and said the former governor's pattern of behavior appears to be “attempting to influence Dr. Malatras' testimony and obstruct the Select Subcommittee's investigation.”
Malatras, a former state operations chief and chancellor of the SUNY system who also advised Cuomo when he was state attorney general, was the only former member of Cuomo's office to confirm to the COVID committee that the former governor, by order, 'edited' the infamous New York State Department of Health report that undercounted the true number of deaths in nursing homes. New York Post Reported.
Syracuse.com reports that Malatras Resigned Cuomo was fired from his role as finance secretary in late 2021 following the leaking of derogatory comments he made about women who accused him of sexual harassment, but former officials didn't hear from the former governor until May 18, 2023, the day after a House subcommittee held its first public hearing on the nursing home scandal. The House Oversight Committee document He revealed.
A screenshot shared by the Subcommittee on X shows Cuomo's writing.
“Hi Jim. It's Andrew Cuomo. I haven't seen you in a long time. I want you to know I'm always thinking of you. I'm so sorry for the pain you've gone through. It was unfair and mean. I'm sorry I was a lightning rod for hurting you,” the former governor wrote.
“I always knew politics was a dirty business but the level of it surprised me. I hear you're doing well and if there's anything I can do to help you, of course I will. I know it's hard,” he continued, telling Malatras to “remember there are chapters in life and how you end the last one is the beginning of the next.”
“A spanking hurts, but standing up makes a man. Once again, I apologize for causing you pain. Thank you,” he concluded.
Malatras did not respond, and Cuomo did not contact him again until Feb. 18, 2024, two days after the subcommittee selected Malatras for a transcript interview.
“Hi Jim, I wanted to reach out to see how you're doing now that the dust has settled and the truth is coming out,” Cuomo wrote. “I'm sure you'll do well. Quality and talent will always win in the end. Best of luck, Andrew.”
The subcommittee found that the messages raised concerns that “Mr. Cuomo may have been attempting to influence Dr. Malatras' testimony and obstruct the Select Subcommittee's investigation.”
Gov. Cuomo reached out to Malatras a third time on July 15, 2024, calling him and “immediately” mentioned the nursing home investigation, which the former adviser said made Malatras “uncomfortable.”
This was the same day that the subcommittee informally confirmed a hearing date for former Governor Cuomo.
On September 17, Malatras wrote, “Cuomo began the call by saying, I will testify publicly before a select House Subcommittee.”
“During the conversation, he talked about nursing homes, specifically saying that the situation in New York was much better than he knew it would be, and he cited several facts and data points to prove his point,” the former aide said. “I don't remember the exact details of the facts and data points, but I do remember him saying that New York's nursing home numbers were even better than originally thought compared to other states.”
Asked how he interpreted the call, Malatras said it was “an attempt to inform me of positive information that he was going to testify about.”
“I just listened and didn’t react to his discussion of nursing homes because “I am concerned that I may be at odds or disagree with Governor Cuomo on this call, or that discussing this matter may in some way prejudice future select subcommittee hearings,” he said.
Based on these three separate communications by Mr. Cuomo, the Subcommittee determined that “Mr. Cuomo engaged in conduct consistent with an attempt to improperly influence witness testimony and obstruct the Select Subcommittee's investigation.”
“The Select Subcommittee continues to conduct a thorough and fact-based investigation,” the addendum concludes. “Accordingly, the Select Subcommittee is considering all available avenues to hold former Governor Cuomo accountable.”
Governor Cuomo denied any wrongdoing in contacting Malatras and claimed the message was simply a “kind message to a person.”
The memo also accused Cuomo's lawyer, Rita Glavin, of using “intimidation tactics” against the subcommittee staff.
“Mr. Glavin did not simply voice his dissenting opinion, but 'reminded' Select.” Impose ethical obligations on the subcommittee's staff. Glavin said two staff members Citing applicable state bar rules (i.e., she researched state bar numbers); “Denial of Bar Action Against Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani,” the addendum reads.
“Any reasonable person could interpret this 'demand letter' as a threat to file a petition to disbar the staff,” the House investigators continued, “and this is not the first time Mr. Glavin has resorted to such intimidation tactics.”
The Subcommittee recently Subpoena According to current Governor Kathy Hockle (Democrat), New York PostThey also alleged that her administration had concealed relevant records.
