Republican-Controlled House Committee Criticizes Andrew Cuomo's Handling of Covid
The former governor contacted a crucial witness before their testimony.
TroibNews 
ALBANY, New York — A Republican-backed report has suggested that former Governor Andrew Cuomo may have attempted to “inappropriately” influence the testimony of a former aide prior to addressing a House panel probing his administration's Covid-19 strategies.
Cuomo, a Democrat considering a run for New York City mayor, reached out to his former adviser, Jim Malatras, just days before Malatras was scheduled to testify before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.
“Now that the dust has settled and the truth is being revealed, I wanted to check in with you and see how you are doing,” Cuomo conveyed in a text to Malatras. “I am sure you will do well, because quality and talent always wins in the end. All the best, Andrew.”
While Cuomo has maintained that his message to Malatras, his first since 2021, was merely a casual check-in with a former staff member, the GOP-led subcommittee's 557-page report, released on Monday, asserted that Cuomo “acted in a manner consistent with an attempt” to sway Malatras' testimony.
“Considering the timing of this text message — within 48 hours of the Select Subcommittee publicly announcing its request for Dr. Malatras’ testimony — and the fact that he had not spoken with former Governor Cuomo since 2021, the Select Subcommittee determined: …this text message raises concerns that Mr. Cuomo may have been trying to influence Dr. Malatras’ testimony and obstruct the Select Subcommittee’s investigation,” the report stated.
Malatras’ upcoming testimony was deemed crucial, as lawmakers were scrutinizing Cuomo's policies regarding nursing homes during the pandemic and the decision to allow facilities to admit Covid-positive patients. The panel also investigated how the Cuomo administration produced a nursing home death report — one that Malatras significantly contributed to — as well as whether state officials had underestimated fatalities.
A prior memo from the subcommittee in September mentioned the text message to Malatras. In response to the findings, Cuomo’s team denounced the report as politically motivated.
“This attempt to miscast the governor's communications with a longtime former aide is more of the same from this MAGA clown committee who to date have a documented history of misrepresenting the truth and lying to the press — the fact is that the governor and Mr. Malatras did not speak until AFTER both testified out of respect for the subcommittee's work, a communication that is perfectly allowable and appropriate,” said Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi.
Azzopardi characterized the overall report as “weak gruel,” claiming it was a misuse of taxpayer funds and an abuse of power. He pointed out that earlier investigations into Cuomo's handling of Covid did not lead to charges, and a civil case filed by families of nursing home residents who died was dismissed.
“The DOJ — three times — the Manhattan DA and others looked at the nursing home issue and found no wrongdoing, while the meritless civil lawsuit launched by the very same people who have been working arm in arm with this committee was tossed out of court,” he stated. “Despite being ground zero of COVID, an objective review of the federal data shows that New York was ranked 39th in terms of pro rata nursing home deaths in 2020.”
During his testimony, Malatras informed the subcommittee that the nursing home report underwent review and editing by Cuomo's top aides and included input from state Department of Health officials. Cuomo had previously claimed he did not partake in the report's editing or writing. Subsequent analyses revealed that the report had underreported the number of resident fatalities.
The release of the House report coincides with a politically sensitive moment for Cuomo, who is contemplating a run for mayor against incumbent Eric Adams, who is currently facing corruption allegations.
In October, House Republicans on the panel submitted a 107-page referral to the Department of Justice, alleging that Cuomo made false statements to Congress and advocating for criminal charges against him.
Cuomo has consistently refuted any allegations of wrongdoing, noting that federal prosecutors rarely take on such cases.
Democrats on the subcommittee criticized the Republican findings, but did not specifically defend Cuomo.
“Select Subcommittee Republicans' final report reflects two years wasted on political stunts instead of preventing and preparing for the next pandemic,” Democrats on the panel criticized in a statement. “Instead of coming together with Democrats to get ahead of future viruses or fortify America's public health infrastructure and workforce, Select Subcommittee Republicans prioritized extreme probes that vilified our nation's scientists and public health officials in an effort to whitewash former President Trump's disastrous COVID-19 response.”
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
Cuomo, a Democrat considering a run for New York City mayor, reached out to his former adviser, Jim Malatras, just days before Malatras was scheduled to testify before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.
“Now that the dust has settled and the truth is being revealed, I wanted to check in with you and see how you are doing,” Cuomo conveyed in a text to Malatras. “I am sure you will do well, because quality and talent always wins in the end. All the best, Andrew.”
While Cuomo has maintained that his message to Malatras, his first since 2021, was merely a casual check-in with a former staff member, the GOP-led subcommittee's 557-page report, released on Monday, asserted that Cuomo “acted in a manner consistent with an attempt” to sway Malatras' testimony.
“Considering the timing of this text message — within 48 hours of the Select Subcommittee publicly announcing its request for Dr. Malatras’ testimony — and the fact that he had not spoken with former Governor Cuomo since 2021, the Select Subcommittee determined: …this text message raises concerns that Mr. Cuomo may have been trying to influence Dr. Malatras’ testimony and obstruct the Select Subcommittee’s investigation,” the report stated.
Malatras’ upcoming testimony was deemed crucial, as lawmakers were scrutinizing Cuomo's policies regarding nursing homes during the pandemic and the decision to allow facilities to admit Covid-positive patients. The panel also investigated how the Cuomo administration produced a nursing home death report — one that Malatras significantly contributed to — as well as whether state officials had underestimated fatalities.
A prior memo from the subcommittee in September mentioned the text message to Malatras. In response to the findings, Cuomo’s team denounced the report as politically motivated.
“This attempt to miscast the governor's communications with a longtime former aide is more of the same from this MAGA clown committee who to date have a documented history of misrepresenting the truth and lying to the press — the fact is that the governor and Mr. Malatras did not speak until AFTER both testified out of respect for the subcommittee's work, a communication that is perfectly allowable and appropriate,” said Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi.
Azzopardi characterized the overall report as “weak gruel,” claiming it was a misuse of taxpayer funds and an abuse of power. He pointed out that earlier investigations into Cuomo's handling of Covid did not lead to charges, and a civil case filed by families of nursing home residents who died was dismissed.
“The DOJ — three times — the Manhattan DA and others looked at the nursing home issue and found no wrongdoing, while the meritless civil lawsuit launched by the very same people who have been working arm in arm with this committee was tossed out of court,” he stated. “Despite being ground zero of COVID, an objective review of the federal data shows that New York was ranked 39th in terms of pro rata nursing home deaths in 2020.”
During his testimony, Malatras informed the subcommittee that the nursing home report underwent review and editing by Cuomo's top aides and included input from state Department of Health officials. Cuomo had previously claimed he did not partake in the report's editing or writing. Subsequent analyses revealed that the report had underreported the number of resident fatalities.
The release of the House report coincides with a politically sensitive moment for Cuomo, who is contemplating a run for mayor against incumbent Eric Adams, who is currently facing corruption allegations.
In October, House Republicans on the panel submitted a 107-page referral to the Department of Justice, alleging that Cuomo made false statements to Congress and advocating for criminal charges against him.
Cuomo has consistently refuted any allegations of wrongdoing, noting that federal prosecutors rarely take on such cases.
Democrats on the subcommittee criticized the Republican findings, but did not specifically defend Cuomo.
“Select Subcommittee Republicans' final report reflects two years wasted on political stunts instead of preventing and preparing for the next pandemic,” Democrats on the panel criticized in a statement. “Instead of coming together with Democrats to get ahead of future viruses or fortify America's public health infrastructure and workforce, Select Subcommittee Republicans prioritized extreme probes that vilified our nation's scientists and public health officials in an effort to whitewash former President Trump's disastrous COVID-19 response.”
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
