Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., mentioned Monday {that a} federal investigation into New York’s handling of information associated to coronavirus deaths in nursing houses should transfer ahead instantly.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D., and his administration have been heavily criticized for not totally reporting the numbers after Cuomo had directed nursing houses to soak up residents who had been hospitalized with COVID-19. The backlash over this coverage, which was meant to liberate house in hospitals, intensified after a Cuomo aide reportedly admitted that the administration withheld information from the Division of Justice.
“The dam is breaking, you are seeing overwhelming bipartisan outcry. Democrats … have to develop a backbone and rise up for what’s proper,” she mentioned on “The Faulkner Focus,” calling Cuomo “the worst governor in America” in dealing with the pandemic.
CUOMO AIDE TELLS NY DEMOCRATS ADMINISTRATION HID NURSING HOME DATA TO KEEP IT FROM TRUMP DOJ: REPORT
REP. ELISE STEFANIK: “You’ve got each Democrats and Republicans calling for an impartial investigation. I need to see subpoenas each at the state stage, the State Senate and State Meeting ought to problem subpoenas instantly, and I need the Division of Justice to launch an impartial investigation. We all know from the partial transcript that was launched by the secretary to the governor that there was obstruction of justice.
This isn’t about politics however individuals’s lives. What was so shameful in regards to the transcript that was launched was the secretary to the governor did not apologize for the quantity of deaths, did not apologize for the coverage, however apologized for the political fallout for Democrats. It is a shame. President Biden must preserve to his promise that the Division of Justice can be impartial from political stress from Governor Cuomo, who’s a Democrat. However the Division of Justice and regulation enforcement, this prosecution must go ahead instantly.
Lower than a month in the past, state senators blocked subpoenas and blocked state Senate Republicans who wished to rein in [Cuomo’s] emergency powers. Now the dam is breaking. You see overwhelming bipartisan outcry … Everybody is aware of Governor Cuomo is a bully. They bully individuals inside their personal celebration. That is extra vital. We’re speaking about lives that had been misplaced right here, so these Democratic state senators and the Democratic congressional delegation want to develop a backbone and develop some political braveness and rise up for what’s proper, for the individuals of this state who deserve justice. So we are going to see these subpoenas and that investigation ought to be launched instantly. No excuse after final week’s bombshell.
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Final week, Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa reportedly mentioned Cuomo’s administration feared the information about COVID-19 deaths may “be used towards us” by the Justice Division within the midst of its federal probe initiated towards 4 states relating to nursing house deaths, together with New York.
On Friday, DeRosa sought to make clear her feedback, saying she was “explaining that after we acquired the DOJ inquiry, we would have liked to briefly put aside the Legislature’s request to cope with the federal request first.”
Fox Information’ Ronn Blitzer contributed to this report