BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples said she was disappointed to read the reports that senior aides to Governor Andrew Cuomo edited nursing home reports last summer.
She expects there to now be further investigations into the Cuomo administration.
"Every day there is a new article in the paper," she said. "There are ten more legislators or so who want to see additional hearings. I'm not so sure those things will happen tomorrow but I assure you they will."
The Wall Street Journal and New York Times both reported Thursday night that Cuomo and his aides began concealing the numbers months before the Trump administration looked to pursue an inquiry into the state's handling of the outbreak and requests for data arrived from federal authorities.
The federal investigation, or potential for one, was cited by the Cuomo administration as the reason they did not fully disclose data publicly or to lawmakers.
Governor Cuomo is simultaneously facing allegations from multiple women of sexual harassment. Peoples Stokes reserved judgement on whether the governor should resign, saying while the allegations are serious, she will wait until Attorney General Letitia James finishes her investigation.
"I'm African American and my people for decades have been accused of things they did not do," Peoples Stokes said. "…I'm of the perspective we should allow the attorney general's investigation to be completed before we make decisions on how people should be prosecuted."
When asked about her support of the governor, she said she supports the process of the investigation, but said bluntly she does not like the governor.
"Do I like the man? I didn't like him last year," she said.
Lawmakers in Albany on Friday are expected to pass a bill which modifies Governor Cuomo's emergency powers. The bill provides some legislative oversight, though Cuomo is able to modify or extend any of his previous executive orders in 30-day increments.
Stokes said the bill restores the balance of power between the legislature and governor because of the more than 100 people who died and the fears of a new strain of the virus.
"We're still in the midst of a pandemic," she said. "Now, if he makes a decision about a directive that the legislative doesn't agree with, we don't have to accept it. But we still do need somebody to use all of the scientific research that is available to them in those specific departments to make a decision about how to protect all New Yorkers."
Stokes said Cuomo was "absolutely not" involved in the negotiations on the bill.
