Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is calling for a “full investigation” into the way New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) administration handled COVID-19 related deaths in nursing homes.
“I support our state’s return to co-equal governance and stand with our local officials calling for a full investigation of the Cuomo administration’s handling of nursing homes during COVID-19,” she said in a statement on Friday.
She added, “Thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers lost their lives in nursing homes throughout the pandemic. Their loved ones and the public deserve answers and transparency from their elected leadership, and the Secretary to the Governor’s remarks warrant a full investigation.”
New statement: @AOC calls for “full investigation of the Cuomo administration’s handling of nursing homes” pic.twitter.com/OMwqsKGOQA
— Katie Glueck (@katieglueck) February 19, 2021
Cuomo is receiving backlash from both Republicans and Democrats. On Wednesday, nine Republicans urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate the matter, according to Politico.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and the group wrote a letter calling on Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the committee’s chair, to launch the investigation after one of Cuomo’s aides admitted the administration withheld data on the number of deaths.
“The American people deserve to know the extent to which Governor Cuomo and his senior staff violated the civil rights of New York seniors, lied to the Department of Justice about their actions, and violated federal civil and criminal laws in the process,” the group wrote.
The lawmakers also urged Biden’s nominee for attorney general, Judge Merrick Garland, to investigate Cuomo.
“When Judge Garland testifies before this Committee, we expect him to commit the Department of Justice to fully investigating this cover-up to determine whether any criminal laws were violated and to prosecute any violations,” they said.
The group continued, “We will also ask him whether he has the resources he needs to fully pursue an investigation, not only into the deaths that occurred in New York but the deaths that occurred in other states that adopted similar directives leading to the admission of COVID-19 infected persons into elder care facilities.”
According to the Times Union, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn are investigating the alleged cover-up, as IJR reported.