Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to the Governor, enter wearing face masks for the governor's daily briefing on the state's COVID-19 response at the Rochester Regional Health Riedman Campus Wellness Center in Irondequoit Monday, May 11, 2020. Sd 051120 Cuomo B Metro
Syndication: Binghamton
New York, NY(77WABC)-Top Republicans are reacting to the NY Post’s bombshell report that Secretary to NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, Melissa DeRosa, allegedly apologized to Democratic lawmakers during a video conference call for withholding the state’s Covid 19 nursing home death totals. The Post reports DeRosa told lawmakers “we froze” out of fear the true numbers would be “used against us” by federal prosecutors.
NY State Republican Committee Chairman, Nick Langworthy, told the Bernie & Sid In The Morning Show on 77WABC this morning, “we have a coverup I think of Nixonian proportions here,” said Langworthy.
The Republican Committee Chairman added, “I don’t see how they can avoid prosecution.” Langworthy also told 77WABC that if Pres. Joe Biden’s Administration “has a shred of integrity” it will investigate. We need “subpoenas,” he said.
The publication further reports DeRosa, during the video conference call, said the Cuomo administration had refused a legislative request for the tally in August because “right around the same time, (then-President Donald Trump) turns this into a giant political football,” according to an audio recording of the two-hour-plus meeting obtained by the NY Post.
The NY Post went into detail about how DeRosa went on a President Trump blame tour, stating “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.”
NYC Republican Staten Island Councilman Joe Borelli spoke with 77WABC hosts Juliet Huddy and Frank Morano during the 77WABC Early News Hour. Borelli said “this Cuomo allegation is nothing short of an absolute bombshell! The Staten Island Congressman also adding, “I mean, this is a confirmation that what they knew what they were doing was wrong and that they had knowledge of what they were doing was wrong.” Councilman Borelli said “obviously Melissa DeRosa has to go,” adding everything is suppose to be “open and transparent” in government. Borelli added “if this is all true” Gov. Cuomo “should consider resigning,” and “I certainly think he should.”
The Post article reads “in addition to attacking Cuomo’s fellow Democratic governors, DeRosa said, Trump “directs the Department of Justice to do an investigation into us.” adding“And basically, we froze,” she told the lawmakers on the call.
Asked about nursing home deaths in the State of NY, Governor Andrew Cuomo has previously stated publicly that CDC guidelines in March allowed Covid-19 patients to be discharged from hospitals back to long term care facilities. The Governor has also said it was not originally known that asymptomatic persons could spread Covid-19.
NY State Attorney General Letitia James on Jan. 21, 2021, issued a 76-page scathing report alleging that the NY State Dept. of Health undercounted Covid-19 deaths at its nursing homes.
