Former 'Love Gov' Andrew Cuomo to be grilled by congress over Covid

By JON MICHAEL RAASCH, POLITICAL REPORTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

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Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will be grilled before Congress Tuesday over his handling of the COVID pandemic as he's accused of perpetrating the number of nursing home deaths. The ex-Empire State executive has largely flown under the radar since resigning in 2021 after being accused of sexual harassment while on the job, including but not limited to giving unwanted kisses, breast groping, sexual remarks and more. Cuomo's hearing comes on the heels of a recently released 48-page report into the ex-Gov's handling of the pandemic that found he was 'absolutely' responsible for an executive order that put sick patients in nursing homes, leading to more infections and deaths. DailyMail.com breaks down the top lines of questioning for New York's former embattled governor.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will be grilled before Congress Tuesday over his handling of the COVID pandemic as he's accused of perpetrating the number of nursing home deaths. The ex-Empire State executive has largely flown under the radar since resigning in 2021 after being accused of sexual harassment while on the job, including but not limited to giving unwanted kisses, breast groping, sexual remarks and more. Cuomo's hearing comes on the heels of a recently released 48-page report into the ex-Gov's handling of the pandemic that found he was 'absolutely' responsible for an executive order that put sick patients in nursing homes, leading to more infections and deaths. DailyMail.com breaks down the top lines of questioning for New York's former embattled governor.

The Nursing Home Directive: Central to the GOP-led committee's probe is Cuomo's March 25, 2020 directive that mandated nursing homes to admit patients who had tested positive for COVID. 'No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the (nursing home) solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19,' the directive stated. The move forbid nursing homes from testing patients for the illness before they were admitted and barred them from denying entry based on a suspected or confirmed diagnosis. Wenstrup told DailyMail.com the directive completely contradicted established COVID protocols at the time.

The Nursing Home Directive: Central to the GOP-led committee's probe is Cuomo's March 25, 2020 directive that mandated nursing homes to admit patients who had tested positive for COVID. 'No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the (nursing home) solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19,' the directive stated. The move forbid nursing homes from testing patients for the illness before they were admitted and barred them from denying entry based on a suspected or confirmed diagnosis. Wenstrup told DailyMail.com the directive completely contradicted established COVID protocols at the time. 

'Nowhere in here Did they say but the guidelines from CDC and CMS, really, you know, over overshadow this directive. It doesn't say that, and the directive is different from guidelines, and the others were issuing guidelines,' Wenstrup said. He believes that Cuomo's directive caused untenable conditions in nursing homes that contributed to the deaths of thousands of elderly residents. 'It goes against medical protocols to prohibit a test for COVID-19,' Wenstrup said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had not issues guidance instructing hospitals to discharge sick patients to facilities unequipped to handle them, he said. 'Nowhere in here Did they say but the guidelines from CDC and CMS, really, you know, over overshadow this directive. It doesn't say that, and the directive is different from guidelines, and the others were issuing guidelines,' Wenstrup said. He believes that Cuomo's directive caused untenable conditions in nursing homes that contributed to the deaths of thousands of elderly residents. 

'It goes against medical protocols to prohibit a test for COVID-19,' Wenstrup said. 'It just doesn't make sense.' Wesntrup plans on holding the former governor's feet to the flame on the matter, inquiring why Cuomo did not rescind the order for over a month until May 10, 2020. That day Cuomo completely reversed course and did a 180-degree turn, implementing a new executive order forcing nursing homes to require a negative COVID test from patients before they could be admitted.

'It goes against medical protocols to prohibit a test for COVID-19,' Wenstrup said. 'It just doesn't make sense.' Wesntrup plans on holding the former governor's feet to the flame on the matter, inquiring why Cuomo did not rescind the order for over a month until May 10, 2020. That day Cuomo completely reversed course and did a 180-degree turn, implementing a new executive order forcing nursing homes to require a negative COVID test from patients before they could be admitted.

Underreporting Nursing Home Deaths: Adding to the Cuomo controversy was the discovery that his administration significantly undercounted the amount of nursing home deaths that were caused by COVID. In 2021, New York Attorney General Letitia James revealed that the state miscounted deaths in the homes by up to 50 percent. 'Let's not forget that there was a difference in the counting,' Wenstrup said.

Underreporting Nursing Home Deaths: Adding to the Cuomo controversy was the discovery that his administration significantly undercounted the amount of nursing home deaths that were caused by COVID. In 2021, New York Attorney General Letitia James revealed that the state miscounted deaths in the homes by up to 50 percent. 'Let's not forget that there was a difference in the counting,' Wenstrup said. 

'With Letitia James, she issued a report based on the nursing home response, counted the Cuomo administration, undercounted the total number of nursing home deaths by as much as 50 percent,' Wenstrup said. 'I think we need some answers along that line as well.' The surprise development, after the state for months refused to divulge its true numbers, showed that at least 12,743 long-term care residents have died of the virus as of January 19, 2022 - far greater than the previous official tally of 8,505. The 49 percent jump in deaths from what was originally reported marks New York's toll as one of the highest in the nation.

'With Letitia James, she issued a report based on the nursing home response, counted the Cuomo administration, undercounted the total number of nursing home deaths by as much as 50 percent,' Wenstrup said. 'I think we need some answers along that line as well.' The surprise development, after the state for months refused to divulge its true numbers, showed that at least 12,743 long-term care residents have died of the virus as of January 19, 2022 - far greater than the previous official tally of 8,505. The 49 percent jump in deaths from what was originally reported marks New York's toll as one of the highest in the nation.

Cuomo's COVID Leadership Book: As New Yorkers were reeling from the effects of the pandemic, Cuomo was spending time writing a book about his leadership during the disaster. 'American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic' was published on October 13, 2020, just a few months after the nursing home directive was issued and then reversed.

Cuomo's COVID Leadership Book: As New Yorkers were reeling from the effects of the pandemic, Cuomo was spending time writing a book about his leadership during the disaster. 'American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic' was published on October 13, 2020, just a few months after the nursing home directive was issued and then reversed. 

The GOP chairman expressed concern over the timing of the book and whether any state resources were diverted to writing it. 'It seems to me that would take a lot of time,' he said of Cuomo's autobiography on his pandemic response. The committee may press Cuomo on the book's creation and whether any government staff assisted in the writing. Underlying all of these issues is the chairman's belief that Cuomo has continuously failed to take accountability for the consequences of his decisions during the pandemic.

The GOP chairman expressed concern over the timing of the book and whether any state resources were diverted to writing it. 'It seems to me that would take a lot of time,' he said of Cuomo's autobiography on his pandemic response. The committee may press Cuomo on the book's creation and whether any government staff assisted in the writing. Underlying all of these issues is the chairman's belief that Cuomo has continuously failed to take accountability for the consequences of his decisions during the pandemic.

'He didn't take any responsibility for the directive that was put out,' Wesntrup said, adding Cuomo blamed other people, 'including the nursing homes.' But he won't be able to avoid scrutiny for his misinformed directives forever, he added. 'His name is at the top. It says, "New York Department of Health, Andrew Cuomo, Governor,"' the Republican said. 'The buck stops here.' 'We can't have something like this happen again,' Wenstrup said.

'He didn't take any responsibility for the directive that was put out,' Wesntrup said, adding Cuomo blamed other people, 'including the nursing homes.' But he won't be able to avoid scrutiny for his misinformed directives forever, he added. 'His name is at the top. It says, "New York Department of Health, Andrew Cuomo, Governor,"' the Republican said. 'The buck stops here.' 'We can't have something like this happen again,' Wenstrup said.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)