Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - During a stop and update on COVID in Buffalo Thursday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed a New York Times report on nursing home data as well as the New York State Attorney General's investigation into multiple sexual harassment allegations against him.
In asking Cuomo a question, WBEN reporter Mike Baggerman referenced the Times report that said aides to the Governor repeatedly overruled state health officials over a span of at least five months in an effort to prevent state health officials from releasing the true death toll to the public or sharing it with state lawmakers.
"It wasn't the number, it was the accuracy of the number," Cuomo told Baggerman. "That would fuel the politics," added Cuomo in explaining his administration not releasing the data.
Cuomo said the nursing home death toll became a 'political football' when former President Trump ordered the Department of Justice to investigate the nursing home deaths in New York and three other states. "This was all politics," state Cuomo.
In explaining the nursing home deaths, Cuomo claimed the federal government failed in alerting states to the COVID pandemic and also blamed the spread of COVID in nursing homes on asymptomatic spread from staff who brought it into facilities.
"Whether you dies in a nursing home or you died in a hospital, who do you attribute that death to? Do you attribute it to a nursing home? Or do you attribute it to a hospital?"
Cuomo was also asked about the New York State Attorney General's investigation into multiple sexual assault allegations against him. "I have tried to be respectful of the process," said Cuomo.
Cuomo said it has been 'very difficult' hearing accusation made about him and says only one side of the story has been told. "I can't tell you how eager I am to tell my side of the story."
