#AG James urged to probe Cuomo’s COVID nursing home actions

The families of nursing home residents who died after contracting the coronavirus are urging state Attorney Letitia James to launch a criminal probe of Gov. Cuomo’s actions during the pandemic.

Voices for Seniors — a group that advocates for the families — sent a letter to James calling for investigations into Cuomo for malfeasance, including a since-rescinded policy requiring nursing homes to accept recovering COVID patients discharged from hospitals.

They also claim he used publicly-funded staffers to draft his COVID “leadership” book, tampered with public documents by under-counting COVID nursing home deaths and granted hospitals and nursing homes immunity from medical malpractice suits during the early months of the pandemic.

James has yet to respond to the group’s plea, said Voices For Seniors co-founder Vivian Zayas.

“We have not received a reply to our letter. Why is this issue not a priority compared to the sexual harassment complaints?,” Zayas asked.

James’ office is already investigating sexual harassment allegations leveled against the governor by staffers and former staffers.

“We’re requesting a meeting with the attorney general and urge her to investigate Cuomo’s handling of nursing homes. We’re pleading with AG James on behalf of families who lost loved ones to deliver accountability,” Zayas said.

A spokesperson for the attorney general said James is reviewing the advocates’ letter and request.

The calls for a state probe of Cuomo’s COVID nursing home decisions has been a political hot potato.

Last week, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli passed the buck by saying the attorney general can investigate Cuomo’s nursing home actions without a referral from his office.

James has not commented on DiNapoli’s claim.

James did issue a stinging report on nursing homes in January that concluded the Cuomo administration undercounted COVID nursing home deaths by 50 percent.

Hours later, state Health Department Commissioner Howard Zucker added thousands of nursing home residents to the death toll.

Zayas applauded James’ earlier nursing home report.

Cuomo and his counsel, Beth Garvey, claim the governor and the administration have acted appropriately.

The governor also urged people to wait for the results of the various probes, including the impeachment investigation launched by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Sources said the AG could investigate the violations of laws including tampering with public documents (Class D felony), obstruction of governmental administration (Class A Misdemeanor and violations of the public officers law.

Zayas said federal inquiries of team Cuomo’s nursing home policies are mostly limited to reporting of nursing home information, including fatalities, during the pandemic.