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Republicans in the New York State Assembly announced Thursday that they would lobby to form an impeachment commission to “gather facts and evidence” regarding Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling of the crisis. coronavirus and underreported COVID-19 nursing home deaths in the state.
Assembly Republicans said on Thursday they would introduce a measure to form an impeachment commission, which they said would be charged with “examining the method of state administration and conduct in all matters relating to nursing homes and long-term care facilities during COVID-19. pandemic. “
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The resolution would set a 60-day deadline for the committee to conduct its business and submit findings and recommendations to the legislature.
The committee would be bipartisan and consist of eight members, with two people appointed by each legislative leader, and would have the same powers as a legislative committee, including the ability to summon witnesses and demand the production of records, correspondence and documents related to the case.
“The Cuomo administration’s cover-up of nursing homes is one of the most alarming scandals we’ve seen in state government,” Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said in a statement. “Intentionally withholding critical information from the public, underreporting the death toll by 50 percent and the recent revelation that they hid the truth to avoid an investigation by the Federal Department of Justice are among the factors raising the serious possibility crime. “
Barclay added, “It is incumbent on the Legislature to undertake a full bipartisan review of the policies, decisions and actions of the Cuomo administration on this issue and to render a decision on what to do to hold the governor accountable.”
Barclay said the legislature “has a responsibility to hold this administration accountable. Rolling back the governor’s emergency powers is important, but does not begin to scratch the surface of what is needed.”
Barclay appears to confirm reports that “the federal government is investigating Governor Cuomo, as Assembly Republicans have requested.”
“But by no means should the federal response stop state lawmakers from seeking the truth, gathering the facts and determining the appropriate course of action,” Barclay said.
The state Republicans’ move comes as the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn have reportedly launched an investigation into how the Cuomo administration handled the state’s nursing home crisis during the pandemic.
The investigation is not yet far away and is focusing on key members of the Cuomo coronavirus task force, the Albany Times-Union reported, citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter. Neither Cuomo nor any administration official has so far been charged with wrongdoing.
Members of Cuomo’s task force include New York State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker and Gov. Secretary Melissa DeRosa. The latter came under close scrutiny this month after apparently admitting that the governor’s team withheld information about COVID-19-related deaths in nursing homes.
“As we have said publicly, the DOJ has been studying this issue for months. We are cooperating with them and will continue to do so,” Cuomo senior advisor Rich Azzopardi said in a statement.
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It is not clear whether Azzopardi’s statement refers to the Brooklyn US attorney’s investigation, which The Times-Union describes as “in its early stages.” Azzopardi’s statement did not specify whether Cuomo’s office was in contact with the FBI or U.S. prosecutors about a new investigation.
Last month, New York Attorney General Letitia James said deaths from COVID-19 in nursing homes across the state were underestimated by 50%. And things got worse last week after a report that a senior Cuomo aide told leading state Democratic lawmakers that the administration withheld data on COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes to avoid a federal exam.
But last year, Cuomo ordered state nursing homes to accept patients who had or were suspected of having COVID-19. The decision created an attack of COVID-19 cases that have infected thousands of elderly patients and resulted in hundreds of deaths among the state’s most vulnerable population.
James said a new report found that as of January 27, 2021, there were 5,597 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in nursing homes and 2,783 additional suspected deaths. In assisted care facilities, there were 160 deaths and 52 presumed deaths.
James’ report said government guidelines requiring the admission of COVID-19 patients to nursing homes may have put residents at increased risk of harm in some facilities and clouded the data available to assess. this risk.
Cuomo, responding to reporters’ questions last month after the release of the nursing home death report, defended himself and said, “Everyone did their best.”
During the press conference, Cuomo said the state was following federal guidelines. “If you think there was a mistake, then go talk to the federal government,” he said. “It’s not about pointing fingers or blaming, it’s become political football.”
Cuomo defended the nursing home policy as being in line with the Trump administration’s guidelines at the time.
James’ report said government guidelines requiring the admission of COVID-19 patients to nursing homes may have placed residents at increased risk of harm in some facilities and clouded the data available to assess this risk.
The Attorney General’s Office (OAG) has asked 62 nursing homes to provide data on deaths in their facilities.
The report, which revealed the findings of an investigation into allegations of patient neglect and other “worrying behaviors” that put the health and safety of patients and employees at risk, said some facilities had failed. not followed health protocols to stop the spread of the virus. .
Nursing homes that had low staffing ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services were found to have higher COVID-19 death rates.
In addition, the lack of sufficient personal protective equipment for staff, as well as the low availability of tests, could also have increased the risk of contracting the virus for patients, according to the report.
About 70% of the nearly 35,000 deaths from COVID in New York City were people aged 70 and over, according to state data as of January 28.
Investigations of more than 20 nursing homes whose reported conduct during the first wave of the pandemic was of particular concern are still ongoing, James added.
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“As the pandemic and our investigations continue, it is imperative that we understand why residents of nursing homes in New York City have suffered needlessly at such an alarming rate,” James said in a statement. “While we cannot bring back the people we have lost in this crisis, this report seeks to provide the transparency the public deserves and spur increased action to protect our most vulnerable residents.”
Thomas Barrabi of Fox News contributed to this report.
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