The outraged health commissioner of New York State on Thursday declined to say whether Andrew Koomo’s administration in government hospitals ordered that the number of nursing home residents who died of COVID-19 in hospitals be kept low.
During a virtual budget hearing, Drs. Howard Zucker questioned state Sen. Tom Omera (R-Elmira) as to why he “stoned” lawmakers and the Empire Center for Public Policy after formally requesting the data.
“Commissioner, whose decision was not to release the record?” O’Mara asked.
But instead of answering directly, Zucker defied the point-blank question.
“This description and details shows how it happened? It is the subject of an ongoing investigation and when it is fully determined … it will be released to the public,” he said.
Zucker again cited an “ongoing investigation” when O’Mara answered questions about whether Zucker had received any subpoena, including testifying before the federal subcontinent.
“I’m going back to the same issue I’m saying that a federal investigation process is going on,” Zakar said.
After the investigation was over, Zucker also claimed “I will have a comment”.
“But right now, this is an investigation that our legal team will address,” he said.
Earlier in the hearing, Zucker used the same excuse when asked by Sen. Suu Serino (R-Hyde Park) why he would not support an independent investigation into his actions if he “believes the facts that You’re presenting today. “
“The issue is under investigation and I will leave it there,” Zakar said.
Zucker did not specify what investigation the federal agency was conducting.
But sources familiar with the matter told the Post last week that the FBI and the Brooklyn US Attorney’s Office have begun an investigation into the Cuomo administration’s actions related to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
The investigation was allegedly launched following The Post as secretary of Cuomo’s top aide, Governor Melissa Derasa, earlier this month told Democratic lawmakers during a video conference call on 10 February.
During the meeting, DeRosa said that the Cuomo administration halted the total number of nursing home residents killed by COVID-19 from legislators and the public due to pending investigations by federal prosecutors.
“Because then we were in a situation where we weren’t sure if what we’re going to give to the Justice Department, or what we give to you guys, what we started saying was going to be used against us when We were ‘sure if there was going to be an investigation, “DeRosa said.
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