Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been subpoenaed to testify before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. The committee is looking into the Cuomo administration’s COVID-19 nursing home policies during the pandemic.
The subcommittee is accusing Cuomo of recklessly exposing nursing home residents to COVID-19 by mandating nursing homes accept residents who tested positive for COVID-19 in the spring of 2020, a move that allegedly resulted in thousands of deaths.
Cuomo’s handling of the pandemic has faced intense scrutiny, particularly as criticism mounted when it was revealed that COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes may have been underreported by as much as 50%.
Cuomo had previously defended his actions, stating that his decisions were consistent with federal guidelines.
A spokesperson for Cuomo dismissed the subpoena as a “press charade,” reiterating that the issue had undergone multiple reviews by various authorities without finding substantial fault.
Cuomo denies any wrongdoing and is scheduled to appear before the subcommittee on May 24.