Cuomo Testifies on COVID-19 Nursing Home Policies

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faced intense scrutiny during a congressional hearing regarding his administration's handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes. He was criticized for a directive that mandated nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients, a move that some panel members described as 'murderous' due to the resulting high death toll among vulnerable residents. Cuomo attempted to deflect responsibility by blaming former President Donald Trump for delays in the federal response, claiming the federal government was absent during the crisis. However, Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, challenged his explanations, emphasizing that the responsibility for the directive ultimately lay with him. Cuomo's testimony came amid accusations of a cover-up regarding the true number of nursing home deaths, a claim he and his spokesperson dismissed as partisan attacks. The former governor, who resigned in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, reiterated his stance that the hearing was politically charged and not focused on genuine accountability.