By Ilana Siyance
On Sunday, Democratic NY Representative Antonio Delgado joined the growing calls to probe the shocking admission by a top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo that the administration hid data on coronavirus deaths in nursing homes.
Last week, during a meeting with Democratic lawmakers, secretary to the governor Melissa DeRosa, made the admission that the state knowingly withheld the accurate number of nursing home deaths out of fear that it was “going to be used against us” by federal prosecutors. As per the NY Post, which reviewed an audio recording of Wednesday’s closed-door meeting, DeRosa told the lawmakers: “And basically, we froze”. “Because then we were in a position where we weren’t sure if what we were going to give to the Department of Justice, or what we give to you guys, what we start saying, was going to be used against us while we weren’t sure if there was going to be an investigation,” DeRosa added.
Since the news broke, bipartisan lawmakers have been calling for a probe of the administration’s already infamous nursing home debacle. “This bombshell admission of a coverup and the remarks by the Secretary to the Governor indicating intent to obstruct any federal investigation is a stunning and criminal abuse of power,” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) wrote in a statement.
“This is clearly a gross obstruction of justice,” said NY Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R-Niagara). “Instead of apologizing or providing answers to the thousands of New York families who lost loved ones, the Governor’s administration made apologies to politicians behind closed doors for the ‘political inconvenience,’ this scandal has caused them.”
Delgado, the 44-year old Democratic Rep. for the 19th congressional district, which includes Hudson Valley and Catskills regions, joined the chorus. “Politics should never come before people’s lives,” Delgado tweeted. “The Secretary to the Governor’s remarks are beyond troubling and warrant a full investigation.”
“Thousands of New Yorkers lost family in nursing homes to COVID-19, a pain made worse by the inability to comfort their loved ones in their final hours,” said Delgado in another tweet. “They deserve answers and accountability.”
Recently, the Cuomo administration finally released updated figures of NY nursing home deaths, including hospital transfers, which were some 50 percent higher than the original numbers disclosed. The administration has also been criticized for its March 25th executive order forcing nursing homes to accept Covid-19 hospital patients, putting the susceptible residents at risk.
Gov. Cuomo has not commented, and has not yet held a press conference after DeRosa’s admission was exposed.