Cuomo directed NY health officials to prioritize COVID-19 testing for his relatives: Report
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York Health Commissioner Howard Zucker directed health officials to prioritize the governor’s own family and figures with ties to his administration in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, the Albany Times-Union reported Wednesday.
Cuomo’s brother, mother and one of his sisters were among those who allegedly received priority tests in March 2020, the newspaper reported, citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
The bombshell report emerged as Cuomo faces calls to resign after eight women, including current and former aides, accused him of sexual harassment or misconduct. The New York State Attorney General’s Office and the State Assembly are investigating the claims.
NY Lawmakers Commit to “Thorough, Lengthy” Gov. Cuomo Impeachment Investigation
The New York State Assembly’s judiciary committee announced on Tuesday that its investigation of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s behavior could take “months.”
The New York State Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair, Long Island Democrat Charles Lavine, said its investigation of embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo could take “months, rather than weeks” to “assess whether there’s evidence that the governor has engaged in conduct that justifies articles of impeachment.”
“Given the breadth and seriousness of the issues under investigation, we expect that the timing will be in terms of months rather than weeks,” Lavine explained during an audio broadcast of a judiciary committee meeting streamed Tuesday.
The committee’s investigation was authorized on March 11. “The reports of accusations concerning the governor are serious,” New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said at the time. “The committee will have the authority to interview witnesses, subpoena documents and evaluate evidence, as is allowed by the New York State Constitution.”
Judiciary committee attorney Greg Andres acknowledged that the public may not get their answers before the results of New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ misconduct investigation into allegations of sexual harassment. “I think it’s more of a recognition that there’s a parallel process happening.,” he said. “We don’t have control over that process, when that report would come out or not. And we won’t necessarily gear our investigation solely on the timing of that report. I think we want to be aware of it, to the extent possible.”