Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) delivered a fiery takedown of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, which many are calling the final blow to Cuomo’s political career. Cuomo was questioned by Stefanik and other members of the House Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, which is investigating his handling of nursing homes during the early days of the pandemic.
Back in 2020, Cuomo’s administration faced heavy criticism for a directive that required nursing homes to accept COVID-19-positive patients. Many believe this led to a high number of deaths in these facilities. Despite mounting evidence and criticism from both sides, Cuomo has defended his actions, even blaming former President Donald Trump for what he called “a lack of leadership.”
Stefanik wasn’t having it. She started her questioning with a sharp reminder, saying, “Just as a reminder for the public tuning in, we are here today on behalf of their loved ones amidst this grief, who have been smeared, attacked, and denigrated by Governor Cuomo and his most senior aides.”
She didn’t let up, digging into Cuomo about the infamous March 2020 directive and pressing him on testimony from his own health commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker. Stefanik pointed out that Zucker had testified that the directive came from a direct request to Cuomo by the Greater New York Hospital Association—something Cuomo denied knowing.
“Isn’t it correct, former governor, that Dr. Zucker served as your commissioner of health during the COVID crisis?” Stefanik asked.
“Yes,” Cuomo replied.
Stefanik then followed up, asking if Cuomo was aware of Zucker’s testimony that the directive was requested directly to Cuomo himself. Cuomo responded defensively, “I’m not aware of his testimony, no.”
“Well, that was what he testified to this committee,” Stefanik shot back, exposing a clear contradiction in Cuomo’s defense. She went on to detail how Cuomo’s office allegedly changed the way nursing home deaths were counted, hiding the true number of fatalities. “This investigation found that you, former governor, and your most senior aides, made a deliberate decision to exclude certain COVID-19 related nursing home deaths to hide and undercount the actual mortality rate in nursing homes.”
Stefanik’s most biting moment came when she questioned Cuomo about the timing of his multi-million dollar book deal, asking, “My question to you is, when were you negotiating for your multi-million dollar advance deals for your book as seniors were dying in nursing homes?”
Cuomo tried to deflect, accusing Stefanik of making up facts, but she quickly fired back, “You’re the one making up facts. You’re the one who undercounted nursing home deaths.” Stefanik then demanded Cuomo turn around and apologize to the families in the audience who had lost loved ones.
“You apologized today, but there are families sitting here. I want you to turn around, look them in the eye, and apologize, which you have failed to do. Will you do it?” Stefanik asked. Cuomo, visibly shaken, refused, accusing her of “political theater.”
Stefanik ended with a final blow: “There is a reason why you were the former Governor of New York State. And you will never hold elected office again.”
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