Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Suffolk) is vowing to nominate a particular prosecutor to examine COVID-19 deaths in nursing properties on “day one” if elected over Gov. Kathy Hochul this November.
“The particular prosecutor ought to pursue justice for 1000's of New York households who've misplaced their family members and shouldn't quit that battle,” the GOP hopeful informed the Submit Wednesday.
“If a particular prosecutor determines that no prison statutes have been violated then so be it as long as it’s a radical investigation that seeks out the reality,” he added.
Such an investigation would give attention to actions taken by ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo within the early months of the pandemic, together with a controversial March 2020 directive that critics say contributed to the demise toll amongst nursing dwelling residents.
Zeldin stated that he would look to a present or former district lawyer to conduct the investigation, which he anticipated might take someplace round six months or a yr to finish.
The particular prosecutor might develop the scope of the probe to incorporate different controversial subjects like a multimillion-dollar ebook deal on the pandemic that Cuomo inked earlier than his political downfall, in keeping with Zeldin.
“New Yorkers know low-cost and craven politics once they see it and so they usually don’t award it with votes,” Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi stated in a textual content.
The previous governor resigned final yr amid a protracted listing of alleged wrongdoing that included a reported cover-up of knowledge detailing the deaths of 1000's of seniors in hospitals, which his administration didn't embrace within the official tally of nursing dwelling deaths.
“The complete variety of COVID fatalities in New York has by no means been in dispute and craven makes an attempt to additional politicize this pandemic turn out to be an increasing number of clear every passing day,” Azzopardi informed the Submit final week.
A blockbuster January 2021 report by the workplace of State Legal professional Basic Letitia James present in that the Cuomo administration roughly undercounted nursing dwelling deaths by 1000's of individuals.
Months later, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a report of his personal that state well being officers hid the information to spice up Cuomo politically.
“It’s clear to many who wrongdoing happened. It’s clear that an investigation was launched after which it was ended with none public report,” Zeldin stated.
Cuomo has denied wrongdoing and previous probes of his dealing with of nursing properties by the Manhattan DA and federal officers didn't result in any prison prices.
The Lengthy Island Republican, who was endorsed by The Submit’s Editorial Board weeks in the past, is operating within the Nov. 8 election towards Hochul, who served as Cuomo’s lieutenant governor for 2 phrases.
Hochul vowed months in the past to conduct a broad investigation to the underside of the state response to the pandemic, however she has but to take any vital steps, akin to appointing investigators, regardless of ongoing stress from legislators and households of people that died of COVID-19.
“She’s slow-walking this investigation as a political transfer. She’s slowing the investigation as a result of she was a part of the administration. She was silent when Cuomo issued the order to place COVID sufferers in nursing properties. She was silent the entire time. We already don’t belief her,” Tracey Alvino, assistant director of Voices for Seniors – whose father, Daniel Alvino, died of COVID in West Islip Nursing Dwelling – informed The Submit final week.
Albany Democrats have additionally saved a bipartisan invoice establishing a nursing dwelling investigation from transferring ahead within the legislative session that ended final month.
If Hochul ever launches a probe, Zeldin stated he would contemplate persevering with it – if elected – although he added that he must wait to see what progress is likely to be made by the tip of the yr.
“All we all know proper now could be that the investigation has simply been getting delayed as a result of the governor is purposely dragging her ft,” Zeldin added.
A spokeswoman for Hochul’s marketing campaign declined to remark.
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