Prosecutors in Manhattan said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo didn’t break the law when his administration misled the public about the amount of COVID-19 deaths linked to nursing homes, according to the former governor’s attorney on Monday.
Elkan Abramowitz, Cuomo’s attorney, issued a statement to news outlets saying the Democrat was told on Monday by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office that it had completed an investigation and wouldn’t bring charges against him.
“I was contacted today by the head of the Elder Care Unit from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office who informed me they have closed its investigation involving the Executive Chamber and nursing homes,” Abramowitz said.
The district attorney’s office, however, did not release a public comment on the matter on Monday. The Epoch Times has contacted the office for comment.
An initial investigation was headed by former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. The office is now headed by current District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who was elected in November 2021.
The probe was opened after New York Attorney General Letitia James last year revealed that the state Department of Health underreported COVID-19 deaths by as much as 50 percent while Cuomo was in office.
“As the pandemic and our investigations continue, it is imperative that we understand why the residents of nursing homes in New York unnecessarily suffered at such an alarming rate,” James said at the time. “While we cannot bring back the individuals we lost to this crisis, this report seeks to offer transparency that the public deserves and to spur increased action to protect our most vulnerable residents.”
A separate investigation carried out by the Democrat-led New York Assembly that was ended in November found the Cuomo administration allegedly “materially misrepresented” data on nursing home COVID-19 deaths.
Cuomo, however, eventually resigned from his position amid allegations that he sexually harassed female subordinates. In August, James’ office also revealed that the former governor mistreated or harassed several women, including government staffers.
Cuomo has vehemently denied the harassment allegations but ultimately stepped down amid the threat of impeachment.
In October, Cuomo was charged with forcible touching of a former aide, a misdemeanor. Cuomo, who also denied those claims, is slated to appear in an Albany City Court arraignment on Friday.
Meanwhile, several weeks ago, the former governor’s younger brother, Chris Cuomo, was terminated from his job at CNN amid reports that he aided his brother in trying to navigate the fallout from the twin scandals.
