A spokesperson for Democratic former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called Congress a “circus” full of “clowns” after a House committee subpoenaed the former New York governor over his COVID-19 nursing home policies. ” he called.
“The Legislature is ostensibly a circus, and they are nothing more than clowns,” Cuomo press secretary Rich Azzopardi said in a statement. Posted on Wednesday on X.
“This is their responsibility, not ours,” Azzopardi said in a statement. “The governor’s legal counsel provided a meeting schedule two weeks in advance and offered to answer any questions in advance in writing.”
The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic announced Tuesday that it has subpoenaed Cuomo to testify on May 24 regarding coronavirus policy and nursing homes. The former governor came under fire in 2020 for ordering nursing homes to accept recovering coronavirus patients, which critics say fueled nursing home deaths during the pandemic. did.
House Committee Subpoena Andrew Cuomo on COVID-19 Nursing Home Policy
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during the daily media briefing at the New York Governor’s Office on June 12, 2020 in New York City. Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed the “Say Your Name” reform bill, an initiative that seeks to improve New York State’s security standards in the wake of recent protests and the death of George Floyd. (Gina Moon/Getty Images)
The commission said the former New York governor “made poor decisions that effectively admitted thousands of COVID-19 positive patients into nursing homes, resulting in predictable but deadly consequences for New York’s most vulnerable populations.” It brought about great results.”
Azzopardi went on to say in a statement that Cuomo’s policies had been previously reviewed by Justice Department leaders under both the Trump and Biden administrations, as well as Congress, and that the subpoenas were “a press gimmick.”
“This is a clear journalistic travesty. They are issuing subpoenas as press releases,” he wrote.
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“The simple fact is that this issue has been considered three times, by the Department of Justice under the Trump and Biden administrations, and by Congress and the Manhattan District Attorney, and it has been found that there is no problem there. [sic]”New York State, like other Democratic and Republican states, followed the guidelines set forth by the Trump administration in March 2020,” Azzopardi said in a statement. If you have a problem with that, you should look in the mirror. Congress knows this, but it’s not about facts; this is about politics. ”
Azzopardi provided Fox News Digital with a letter from Cuomo’s attorney, Rita Glavine, to subcommittee Chairman Brad Wenstrup, stating that Cuomo had scheduled four interviews in August. However, he outlined that he had not heard back from the office until this week.
“Following a conversation with staff on February 12, 2024, I sent an email on February 21, 2024 confirming four dates (August 6, 7, and 13) that Governor Cuomo and I would be available for such interviews. 14th),” Glavine said. he wrote in a letter dated Monday.
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Photo of a nurse caring for a sick patient. (Martin Barrow, via Getty Images)
He continued that he had not heard from his office until Monday and asked Wenstrup to “reconsider issuing the subpoena.”
“Specifically, earlier today, staff asked me to accept electronic service of a subpoena to compel Governor Cuomo’s appearance to testify. “In light of what has been expressed, we ask that you reconsider issuing the subpoena,” she wrote. .
“Let me be clear: Governor Cuomo has been and continues to be supportive,” he added.
Cuomo resigned as governor in 2021 amid accusations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct.
He previously defended New York state’s coronavirus policies regarding nursing homes as following federal guidance.
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“If you think there was a mistake, please go and consult the federal government,” he said at a 2021 press conference. “Instead of it being a matter of blame and blame, this has become a political football.” .
Wenstrup writes:[t]The Select Subcommittee specifically sought your testimony because it was your administration that issued the Nursing Home Order of March 25, 2020, which stated in relevant part:[n]o Resident will be denied re-entry or entry to the facility. [nursing home] Based solely on confirmed or suspected[ed] Diagnosis of novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). ”
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo shows off a mask featuring both the New York Yankees and New York Mets logos during an event at his New York office on Thursday, March 18, 2021. Mr. Cuomo talked about the return of audiences to performing arts and sporting events. , which will include a limited number of fans attending baseball games at the start of the season. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool)
“Of course, even after you left office, you have maintained that the March 25 order is consistent with CMS and CDC guidance.Furthermore, you have maintained that the administration’s orders are not responsible for this order. “Some people die in nursing homes as a result,” Wenstrup continued.
In a statement, Azzopardi concluded that Congress continues to play “political games” against the pandemic as the war intensifies in Ukraine.
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“Do your job. Ukrainian soldiers are throwing stones at Russian tanks because they haven’t sent ammunition and they don’t have the budget yet. Instead, they keep playing politics with the coronavirus. , using people’s pain and the loss of loved ones as a weapon,” he wrote.
Fox News’ Greg Norman, Andrea Vacchiano, Tyler Olson and Rich Edson contributed to this report.
