WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Andrew Garbarino and every member of New York’s Republican Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin and the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley ahead of Judge Merrick Garland’s confirmation hearing to be the U.S. Attorney General.
Specifically, this letter requests that during Judge Garland’s confirmation he be asked a line of questioning about the role the U.S. Department of Justice should play in any investigation of a sitting Governor and his/her administration who conceivably obstructed justice. Additionally, the letter asks that Judge Garland make a strong statement promising to follow through with a proper obstruction of justice investigation into Governor Cuomo and his administration.
This letter is sent in addition to the letter the Republican members of the New York Congressional Delegation wrote a letter to Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson requesting the DOJ to open an obstruction of justice investigation into the Governor and his administration. To date, a response has yet to be received.
“Governor Cuomo and his administration must be held accountable for not only recklessly putting New York seniors in harms’ way, but for admittedly hiding the facts from the Department of Justice,” said Rep. Andrew Garbarino. “The Governor’s wrongdoings did not disappear with Joe Biden’s election, and it is imperative that the U.S. Attorney General, no matter their political affiliation, conduct an immediate and independent investigation into Governor Cuomo’s obstruction of Justice. I’m proud to lead the New York Republican Congressional Delegation in this request, on behalf of every New Yorker who lost a loved one because of Gov. Cuomo’s failures.”
“The cover-up of nursing home deaths by Governor Cuomo and his staff warrants a full federal investigation,” said Rep. Chris Jacobs. “The urgency of the situation is further underscored by the growing bipartisan calls for a such an investigation. President Biden promised an independent Department of Justice. With the announcement that an investigation is now underway, it is imperative that the President’s nominee for Attorney General will allow that investigation to proceed without interference. New Yorkers need answers, transparency, and accountability.”
“Every week we are learning more and more about Governor Cuomo’s alleged coverup and negligence to protect our elderly residents,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. “The Governor has abused his powers, stonewalled state legislators and the media, and his own Chief of Staff admitted a coverup occurred. The Department of Justice must continue their independent investigation into Governor Cuomo’s communications surrounding his March 25 directive to ensure justice can be served for the thousands of New York families who lost loved ones.”
“The thousands of families who have lost loved ones due to Gov. Cuomo’s disastrous decision to put COVID-19 positive patients into nursing homes deserve answers,” said Rep. Tom Reed. “If Judge Merrick Garland is committed to overseeing an impartial, fair Department of Justice, he should be asked to address his commitment to a full obstruction of justice investigation. We are hopeful the Senate Judiciary Committee will head our call for action and do their part to ensure justice is served for the people of New York.”
“It’s absolutely imperative that the Senate Judiciary Committee questions President Biden’s nominee for U.S. Attorney General, Merrick Garland, about the Department of Justice’s investigation into Governor Cuomo’s obstruction of justice during his confirmation hearing next week,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik. “The American people, especially New Yorkers, deserve to know that their Attorney General will undoubtedly follow through with an impartial, independent, and thorough investigation into Governor Cuomo’s obstruction of justice and fatal nursing home order that led to the death
My brother was in ALF when Covid hit. They were nothing short of heroic in their love, care and treatment. Some facilities were. Some were not. Many had no idea in our country what we were dealing with. Sadly we will deal with it again--perhaps not from covid, but from other viruses in the future.
Joel, SP, below, made the observation that those who refuse to "drop things and get on with life" are the heroes in the end. The ones who make a difference. I don't know about that, but it well may be true. Only you can decide if you will sacrifice the end of your own life on the altar of this quest, if you will choose to "die on this hill". No one can decide for you.
And whatever you decide I trust you to make that decision. When Cuomo was out there giving daily briefs I thought he was a hero. I was proven WRONG, consumately wrong. Won't be the first time I am wrong, and won't be the last. But Cuomo is gone, and I doubt he will be back in any important way. We have a way in the USA of not kicking a dog when he is down. He's unlikely to be convicted of any wrongdoing in this matter.
We all wish YOU well, Joel.
I get Joel wanting justice for his wife unfortunately in this world justice is actually a rarity. But sometimes people like Joel who are like a dog with a bone do get that justice. Though sometimes it takes a really long time. We are only 3 years out from the pandemic. Give it a decade or more and you may be surprised the truths that are revealed.
Makes more sense than some of these conspiracy theories, anyway.
My LO was diagnosed Thursday and the person identified as the carrier of the infection was asymptomatic until the following Sunday night.
DH and I were unvaccinated and vulnerable, as was at least one other member of our household, and the best, or even pretty good residential care sites in our surrounding area were full, as they always are.
Owing to the seriousness of circumstances, politics and politicians should have functioned as a team OR STAYED AWAY, and did neither.
The law as it existed at the outset proved to complicate matters further.
My LO was ultimately infected twice, and remained virus positive for months.
I absolutely believe that there were some who functioned in malice and greed, some in ignorance, and some with the best of intentions producing terrible outcomes.
Having been as close as I was to the disaster that occurred I have concluded that no good can come to those who suffered most by continuing this divisive battle.
The lesson to be learned is that a united, well informed approach to disasters of this kind are more likely to be successful than what happened here.
When this happens again, as it most likely will, I hope there will be people who remember the mistakes made in this emergency and proceed with more reason and less pointless rancor.
Perhaps acknowledgement: That some wrong decisions were made? Not enough options in place in advance? Lack of national leadership? No national consensus? Or that better preparation should be made for the next catastrophe – with mass funding by the tax-payer ‘just in case’?
This needs a bit of thinking through…..
And the media tells us they were just blowing off steam and the self obsessed anything for likes culture we have now accepts that spoon fed bulls--t like it's all good. Yeah loved ones couldn't visit dying mothers, father's, sisters and brothers who were dying but these nurses had time to sing and dance. What a crock.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36384793/
There are still people who think the vaccine had no value, and it was all a big conspiracy by the pharmaceutical companies.
In the end, we're all human, and humans don't know everything.
I don't think anything is going to happen, so it's time to move forward with life, grieve the dead, and know that some things just can't be fixed.
I am sorry for your loss Joel but as Alva said, its time to let it go and move forward as best u can. No one can be held accountable to a virus no one knew about.