New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should “answer” about nursing homes and the handling of victims during the coronavirus pandemic, New York Mayor Eric Adams declared Monday.
Adams commented when asked by a reporter whether he believed that “covering the number of Covid-related nursing home deaths would disqualify Cuomo for running for the mayor.”
“I met with some of the nursing home families and supporters. There are a few things we want to do with them, but he has to answer those questions on the trail,” Adams replied. “Should it be an automatic disqualification? No, I think it needs to be answered on the trail. I think exactly what happened. And I think some of those families are looking forward to it.”
A report released in March 2022 by the New York State Secretary found that Cuomo's Health Department “was not transparent in reporting Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes.”
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Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo will speak at the New York City Carpenter Council during his campaign to the mayor on Sunday, March 2nd. (AP/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
The former governor was also grilled last year by Republican lawmakers about a controversial order issued by his administration in March 2020.
More than 9,000 recovered coronavirus patients have been released from hospitals to nursing homes under the directive. This was later cancelled amid speculation that the outbreak had accelerated.
A state report, commissioned later by Cuomo's successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, found that policies on how nursing homes should deal with Covid-19 were “not in a hurry and coordinated,” but they were based on the best understanding of science at the time.
Cuomo's representatives denied that he accidentally covered up the nursing home during the pandemic.
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams is re-election this year. (AP/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Cuomo eventually resigned in August 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment.
Over the weekend, Cuomo announced his mayoral bid for New York City and said in a video message.”[t]His city feels just threatening, out of control and in crisis. ”
When asked about allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo, Adams said Cuomo also “have to answer that on the campaign trail.”
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo testified on September 10, 2024 before some subcommittees of the Capitol Hill coronavirus pandemic. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
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“I believe in women [who] I file an allegation and respect what they say. I believe what they said based on the investigation and he has to answer that on the trail,” Adams said.
Bradford Betz, Maria Paranich and the Associated Press of Fox News contributed to this report.
