As the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office in Brooklyn are probing the state of New York’s handling of data related to coronavirus deaths in nursing homes, things are looking worse for Governor Andrew Cuomo.
During an interview on MSNBC, Democrat New York Assemblyman Ron Kim says he was threatened in a phone call from Gov. Cuomo due to his criticism of the Governor’s handling of nursing home deaths.
“GOV. CUOMO CALLED ME DIRECTLY ON THURSDAY TO THREATEN MY CAREER IF I DID NOT COVER UP FOR MELISSA [DEROSA] AND WHAT SHE SAID. HE TRIED TO PRESSURE ME TO ISSUE A STATEMENT, AND IT WAS A VERY TRAUMATIZING EXPERIENCE,” KIM SAID. “HE SPENT 10 MINUTES BERATING ME, YELLING AT ME, THREATENING ME AND MY CAREER, MY LIVELIHOOD.”
Below is a statement from Rich Azzopardi, Senior Advisor to Governor Cuomo:
“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. We did ask for Mr. Kim to do the honorable thing and put out a truthful statement after he told the Governor he was misquoted in a news article, which he said he tried to correct but the reporter refused. Kim said he would correct the story and then broke his word. No surprise. Instead over the last six days he has baselessly accused this administration of pay to play and obstruction of justice. These continued falsehoods are why the Governor chose to speak out today. We will not allow an unscrupulous politician to deceive New Yorkers or distort the truth. Mr. Kim’s current statements do not even align with the comments he made at the meeting (see below). He is without credibility as his own words demonstrate. Lies have caused families grieving from COVID enough pain. We understand it is our obligation to correct misstatements so families understand the true facts during COVID.
The rest…
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio slammed Gov Andrew Cuomo on Thursday
De Blasio addressed claims made by assemblyman Ron Kim who said he was threatened by Cuomo during a phone call last week
‘It’s a sad thing to say … but that’s classic Andrew Cuomo,’ de Blasio said
‘A lot of people in New York state have received those phone calls. The bullying is nothing new,’ the mayor continued, adding that he ‘100 per cent’ believes Kim
Kim claims he was berated by Cuomo after the assemblyman was quoted in an article revealing new details on the nursing home cover-up scandal
Kim alleged that the governor told him ‘I can destroy you’ during the phone call
Cuomo’s senior adviser Rich Azzopardi accused Kim of lying in a statement
Quite amusing really.
h/t Craiglang