WASHINGTON—Republican Whip and Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Ranking Member Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) issued the following statements on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s call to “wait for the facts:”
“Governor Cuomo calls on New Yorkers and the American people to wait for the facts about his sexual harassment scandal, but it is Governor Cuomo himself who needs to give us the facts that he has been covering up regarding his deadly nursing home order which forced thousands of COVID-positive patients into nursing homes, leading to their unnecessary deaths. On top of those deadly actions, he initiated a massive cover up and continues to lie about the death toll while refusing to give answers to the families of the thousands of New York seniors who died due to his gross negligence. Enough is enough. Families who lost loved ones are tired of waiting for the facts and are disgusted by Governor Cuomo obstructing justice and hiding the truth. Governor Cuomo’s words are cheap if he doesn’t follow it up with action. He needs to produce the facts today and give answers to those families whose loved ones died due to his deadly nursing home order,” said Scalise.
“Governor Cuomo has repeatedly refused to provide the facts about his deadly order resulting in the deaths of thousands of nursing home patients and it’s past time for the Oversight Committee to make him testify under oath. Chairwoman Maloney must use her subpoena authority to get to the bottom of this injustice. Governor Cuomo’s deadly nursing home order and ensuing cover-up is government abuse at its worst. We owe it to the families who lost loved ones to hold accountable anyone whose reckless policies may have contributed to the deaths of thousands of nursing home patients,” said Comer.
Last month, Select Subcommittee Republicans released a timeline of Governor Cuomo’s cover-up. Select Subcommittee Republicans have repeatedly called on Governor Cuomo to provide all documents and communications related to his order sending contagious COVID-positive patients into nursing home and long-term care facilities. Governor Cuomo has ignored all requests. Ranking Member Comer has called on Chairwoman Maloney to issue subpoenas for both Governor Cuomo’s sworn congressional testimony and for the materials requested by Select Subcommittee Republicans, but she has refused.