Cuomo misrepresented COVID-19 nursing home toll, document says

The state assembly’s investigation into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo concluded that the Democrat’s administration misrepresented how many nursing domestic residents died of COVID-19

via MARINA VILLENEUVE associated Press

November 19, 2021, eleven:15 PM

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- The new york meeting's investigation into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's behavior in office concluded the Democrat's administration misrepresented what number of nursing home residents died of COVID-19, according to a lawmaker who reviewed the committee's nonetheless-secret document.

assembly Member Phil Steck turned into among the meeting Judiciary Committee participants who were capable of evaluation a replica of the approximately forty five-page file Thursday and Friday in develop of its public release, perhaps as soon as next week.

The file, compiled by means of the manhattan city legislation firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, covers a big selection of allegations of misconduct through Cuomo, including sexual harassment claims and the participation of his personnel in writing his publication on the coronavirus pandemic.

different issues include the Cuomo administration's manipulation of information on COVID-19 deaths as offered to the general public.

The linked Press and different news businesses suggested on gaps in the state's statistical accounting of fatalities, together with the administration's resolution to exclude from its nursing home loss of life totals heaps of sufferers who died after being transferred to hospitals.

The Davis Polk investigators established press stories that the state department of fitness desired to include those clinic deaths in the state's nursing home fatality count number.

“The investigation showed that as they have been on account that these concerns, the ebook deal was going on, there is a chapter in the booklet about nursing homes,” said Steck, a Democrat who represents a part of the Albany area. “They were trying to make it as what they concept became least harmful to the governor instead of just telling the truth.”

Cuomo’s resignation in August stymied the law enterprise’s efforts to interview witnesses about the misrepresentation of nursing domestic facts, in keeping with assembly Member Mary Beth Walsh, a Republican.

“I trust that the timing of the governor’s resignation truly type of truncated the investigation and the means to examine on that,” spoke of Walsh, whose district includes ingredients of Saratoga and Schenectady counties. “a number of individuals who have been scheduled to be subpoenaed didn't cooperate after the governor’s resignation."

Cuomo administration officers, on the time, recounted that their nursing home fatality count number turned into incomplete, however pointed out that become simplest since it would take time to assess the statistics. fitness officers insisted it was not an try to make the state's dying toll seem stronger or offer protection to Cuomo's reputation.

Cuomo's spokesperson, rich Azzopardi, said Friday that the previous governor and his group nonetheless hadn't been allowed to look a copy of the assembly document, or all the investigators' facts.

“The meeting Judiciary Committee has chosen not to overview their findings with us which is their prerogative, but it can also once again influence in a one-sided report," Azzopardi noted.

Cuomo resigned in August to evade a probable impeachment trial in the wake of an additional investigation that found he sexually confused eleven girls. That investigation changed into led by means of two unbiased investigators hired by means of the state's lawyer regularly occurring.

Walsh observed the report offered “overwhelming facts” that Cuomo careworn the women who got here forward.

Cuomo, who now faces a criminal can charge that he groped an aide's breast, has denied touching anyone inappropriately.

with reference to Cuomo's $5.1 million ebook deal, Steck referred to the record makes "very clear” that the then-governor violated situations set by means of the state ethics committee, which had stated Cuomo couldn't use state materials or group of workers on the assignment.

Investigators discovered that Cuomo ordered some state personnel to work on the booklet, and while some said they volunteered their inner most time to do so, Steck said "there wasn’t satisfactory time within the day for it to be voluntary work and for them to nevertheless be able to work on reputable state enterprise.”

Ethics commissioners this week rescinded their approval of Cuomo’s booklet deal.

Walsh, a former Saratoga assistant county legal professional, talked about that might “open the door” to an ethics exceptional.