Statement from Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay
“It has never been more clear that there must be a full and immediate investigation of Gov. Cuomo’s nursing home coverup and the circumstances surrounding the loss of 15,000 senior citizens to COVID-19.
The governor’s deflections and finger-pointing have run their course. Today, he blamed the failures of the state’s nursing home response on political attacks, delays caused by his own staff and a previously unmentioned ‘void’ which provided a space for conspiracies to take root.
If, as the governor claims, the inquiry from the federal Department of Justice occupied so much time and attention, why not release the information that was ultimately given to federal authorities? Additionally, the state Department of Health has more than 5,000 professionals working for the agency. That would seem to be enough manpower to ensure requests are fulfilled in an efficient manner.
The time for the governor’s spin is over. The time to act is now. The Legislature must remove Gov. Cuomo’s emergency authorities and initiate subpoena-driven public hearings. The state Attorney General’s Office and federal Department of Justice must continue with expanded investigations until we arrive at the truth.”