NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday lashed out at New York Assemblyman Ron Kim for saying the governor wanted to “destroy him.”
In an interview with the New York Post on Wednesday, Kim said he believed Cuomo and his administration tried to cover up COVID-19 deaths in state nursing homes. He then said the Cuomo administration was telling multiple lies about its handling of the situation.
Kim was also among several lawmakers who signed a letter seeking support for a bill that would revoke the governor’s emergency powers related to the pandemic after Cuomo’s administration revealed that 15,000 nursing home residents have died due to COVID-19.
Upon releasing the information, one of Cuomo’s top aides said that the administration had delayed releasing the data in “fear” that it could be “used” against them.
Kim, a long-time critic of the governor, and other lawmakers said the delay in releasing the data was an “intentional obstruction of justice.”
On Wednesday, the governor lashed out at Kim because of the letter, saying the things written were false.
“I obstructed justice says Assemblyman Kim, and several other legislators. That's a lie,” Cuomo said.
Kim, however, says he was expecting such a reaction from Cuomo.
“I'm not surprised that he's going out of his way to follow up on his threat, he said he would destroy me,” Kim told WCBS 880.
The assemblyman claims Cuomo also told him to “lie” to “cover up for his staff” during a phone call on Feb. 11.
Cuomo's senior advisor, Rich Azzopardi, released a statement on Wednesday night saying those claims were baseless.
“Mr. Kim is lying about his conversation with Governor Cuomo Thursday night. I know because I was one of three other people in the room when the phone call occurred. At no time did anyone threaten to 'destroy' anyone with their 'wrath' nor engage in a ‘coverup.’ That's beyond the pale and is unfortunately part of a years-long pattern of lies by Mr. Kim against this administration,” Azzopardi said.
Cuomo’s advisor said Kim and Cuomo have had a “long, hostile relationship” that began in 2015 when Cuomo criticized Kim for supporting a bill that would protect nail salon workers, only to “do a 180-degree reversal after he received significant funding from the owners of the nail salons.”
Kim did not seem fazed by the attack, though, saying the governor was trying to distract growing criticism from state lawmakers about his administration's handling and reporting of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.
“People died,” Kim said. “This is not about the governor and it's not about me.”