House Committee Subpoenas Gov. Hochul Over Withheld Nursing Home Death Documents
Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, issued a subpoena on Tuesday to Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. The subpoena demands the release of key documents related to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes, which have been delayed for nearly a year.
The subcommittee had requested these records in November 2023 as part of an ongoing investigation into Cuomo’s decision to allow COVID-positive patients to be placed in nursing homes. The policy has been widely criticized for leading to increased deaths among elderly residents. Wenstrup’s subpoena highlighted the failure of Hochul’s administration to provide transparency, despite earlier promises to fully cooperate.
Among the withheld materials are crucial documents, including a chain of emails from April and May 2020 titled “Draft Nursing Home Plan.” Also missing are communications related to a May 2020 directive requiring nursing home residents to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before being admitted or readmitted to the facilities. These documents are seen as vital to understanding the decision-making process that may have contributed to the deaths of many elderly New Yorkers.
According to Wenstrup, the New York Executive Chamber has been obstructing the investigation by withholding specific documents. Despite turning over other materials, the chamber admitted that certain responsive documents were deliberately held back.
During a hearing with Cuomo, evidence was presented showing that the New York Executive Chamber had delayed providing complete records, initially shifting the blame to the state’s Department of Health. Some of the documents eventually submitted were incomplete, heavily redacted, or already publicly accessible, further frustrating the investigation.
This latest move by Wenstrup and the House committee is a significant step in uncovering the full impact of Cuomo’s controversial nursing home policy during the early stages of the pandemic.
