In a video conference call with Democratic leaders in New York, Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa offered a stunning admission that Governor Cuomo’s administration lied about the actual COVID-19 death toll in the state’s nursing homes.
The top aide apologized for the deception, saying that the Cuomo team was paralyzed with fear that the actual numbers would “be used against [them]” by federal prosecutors.
According to audio footage The Post obtained of the meeting, DeRosa admitted the Cuomo administration had declined requests for a full count of nursing home deaths in August because “right around the same time, [then-President Donald Trump] turns this into a giant political football.”
“He starts tweeting that we killed everyone in nursing homes,” DeRosa said. “He starts going after [New Jersey Gov. Phil] Murphy, starts going after [California Gov. Gavin] Newsom, starts going after [Michigan Gov.] Gretchen Whitmer.”
In addition to attacking Cuomo’s fellow Democratic governors, DeRosa said, Trump “directs the Department of Justice to do an investigation into us.”
“And basically, we froze,” she told the lawmakers on the call.
“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.”
But the admission is backfiring in a major way, and New York lawmakers are calling for Cuomo’s impeachment.
State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt will hold a press conference Friday morning to push for further investigation into the situation.
“If the Governor is involved, he should be immediately removed from office,” Ortt said.
State GOP Chair Nick Langworthy is calling for Cuomo’s immediate impeachment.
“The second most powerful person in state government and top aide to Gov. Cuomo admitted on video to the premeditated and willful violation of state laws and what clearly amounts to federal obstruction of justice,” Langworthy said. “Andrew Cuomo has abused his power and destroyed the trust placed in the office of governor. Prosecution and impeachment discussions must begin right away.”
Sen. Rand Paul tweeted Friday morning that “If Democrats were honest about using impeachment to remove corrupt officials, they need look no further than Cuomo.”
According to the latest reports, nearly 15,000 New Yorkers who were in long-term care facilities died from Covid-19. The death toll number increased from about 9,000 to almost 15,000—making clear that the pandemic’s toll on long-term care residents was much worse than the Cuomo administration previously portrayed it to be.
