Andrew Cuomo admits he may have altered report on COVID nursing home deaths
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo found himself in hot water during a recent New York City mayoral debate as he faced accusations of lying to Congress about his involvement in a report that undercounted the number of nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuomo, who resigned from his governorship in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, admitted in an interview with PIX 11 News that he did see the report detailing the nursing home deaths and may have made language changes to it, despite previously claiming he did not recall seeing the report.
Cuomo, who is currently a leading candidate in the New York City mayoral race, continues to face criticism and scrutiny over the handling of nursing home data during the pandemic. During the first mayoral debate, Cuomo’s Democrat opponents accused him of lying to Congress, a claim that is being investigated by the Trump administration. The Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation in May to determine whether Cuomo misled Congress about his actions during the pandemic.
Despite admitting to potentially making changes to the report, Cuomo maintains that the published report was accurate and did not undercount the nursing home deaths. He attributed the ongoing investigation to partisan politics and emphasized that New York always followed federal guidance on handling nursing homes during the pandemic.
Cuomo defended New York’s record on nursing home deaths, stating that the state ranked 38th out of 50 states in the rate of nursing home deaths. He pointed out that only 12 states had a lower rate of death than New York, emphasizing that the state followed federal guidance that evolved over time as officials learned more about the virus.
As Cuomo prepares for the second mayoral debate, he is expected to face more questions about the nursing home report and his handling of the pandemic. The controversy surrounding the nursing home data continues to be a focal point of criticism against Cuomo, who is seeking to move past the scandal and focus on his campaign for mayor of New York City.
