Chris Lange, FISM News
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) over his handling of nursing home deaths during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I was contacted today by the head of the Elder Care Unit from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office who informed me they have closed its investigation involving the Executive Chamber and nursing homes,” said Elkan Abramowitz, a former federal prosecutor who had been hired to represent Cuomo, according to the New York Post. “I was told that after a thorough investigation — as we have said all along — there was no evidence to suggest that any laws were broken.”
The DA’s office has not yet issued a statement on its decision to close the probe.
The investigation was launched last year following a report by New York Attorney General Letitia James revealing that the New York Department of Health underreported COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes by roughly 50 percent. In March of 2020, Cuomo ordered nursing homes to take in patients who tested positive for COVID-19 or were suspected of having contracted the virus. Thousands of elderly patients became infected as a result, many of whom died.
Statewide data reporting indicates that, as of Jan. 2, 2022, more than 15,000 nursing home residents have died, or are presumed to have died, from COVID-19 infections.
“As the pandemic and our investigations continue, it is imperative that we understand why the residents of nursing homes in New York unnecessarily suffered at such an alarming rate,” James said in a statement last January. “While we cannot bring back the individuals we lost to this crisis, this report seeks to offer transparency that the public deserves and to spur increased action to protect our most vulnerable residents.”
Following the release of James’ report, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York also launched investigations into the alleged underreporting. The New York Assembly separately concluded that Cuomo and his administration “materially misrepresented” data on nursing home COVID-19 deaths, which, according to one lawmaker, would be an impeachable offense if Cuomo were still in office.
The state’s health department in August retained an outside law firm to handle inquiries related to decisions from the Manhattan DA’s office, the US Attorney for the Eastern District, or James.
Cuomo stepped down as governor in August after an investigation led by James’ office concluded he sexually harassed 11 women, including current and former state employees. Cuomo has denied the allegations.
Several other investigations into the sexual harassment claims were opened following the release of James’ report.
Last week, Westchester District Attorney Miriam Rocah announced that her office would not pursue charges against the former governor over two separate sexual harassment allegations, despite finding “credible” evidence Cuomo inappropriately touched both women.
The Department of Justice is also investigating the allegations.