Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo subpoenaed by Republicans for a deposition in their COVID investigation into his 'reckless' mishandling of the state's nursing homes

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been subpoenaed by Republicans in Congress to testify about his controversial nursing home policies during the height of the deadly covid pandemic. 

According to a copy of the subpoena and an accompanying letter obtained by DailyMail.com, the subcommittee is seeking additional information about Cuomo's  order mandating nursing homes admit patients positive with COVID-19. 

'Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo implemented nursing home policies that had deadly consequences for New York’s most vulnerable population,' Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, said in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com. 

'Not only did the former Governor put the elderly in harm’s way, but he also attempted to cover-up his failures by hiding the true nursing home death rate.' 

Wenstrup, who leads the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, announced the subpoena Tuesday. He is requesting Cuomo appear for a deposition on May 24. 

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo downplayed the number of nursing home residents who died during the COVID-19 pandemic, the state's Attorney General said in a 2021 report

COVID-19 wrecked havoc in New York nursing homes, leading to over 12,000 dead

'It appears that politics, not medicine, was responsible for these decisions.'

The subcommittee decided to subpoena the former governor because he has 'repeatedly refused the Select Subcommittee’s attempts to schedule a transcribed interview in a reasonable timeframe,' Wenstrup's letter said. 

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, called the Republican's demands 'a press charade.'

'New York followed the guidance put forth by the Trump administration in March of 2020 — as did other Democratic and Republican states,' he told DailyMail.com in a statement.

'Congress is officially a circus and they are nothing but clowns,' he added.

On March 25, 2020, Cuomo - then governor - issued an order that no 'resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the [nursing home] solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19.'

That order required healthcare professionals to admit patients with COVID-19 to nursing homes that also housed healthy residents who were not infected. 

Later, on May 10, 2020, the Cuomo administration rescinded the policy.

In July of that year, the New York Department of Health reported that 6,432 individuals died of COVID-19 in nursing homes. 

A 2021 report by New York Attorney General Letitia James, however, discovered that many more had died, and that Cuomo's administration was responsible.

'In addition to the March 25 Order itself, there is also troubling evidence suggesting the Cuomo Administration at best downplayed its impacts and at worst covered them up,' Wenstrup wrote to Cuomo. 

Rep. Brad Wrenstrup, R-Ohio, said in his letter to Cuomo that 'it is now clear' that he is trying to 'delay or undermine' the committee's investigation

Cuomo has previously said his nursing home orders were in line with guidance from the CDC

'Accordingly, your testimony is vital to our investigation into the effectiveness of federal guidance and regulations implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the protection of nursing home residents.'

The Ohio Republican also included a detailed timeline of the committee's many attempts to schedule an interview with Cuomo. 

It shows how the two parties have been going back and forth trying to pin down an interview date since December.

Cuomo and his attorneys have 'only worked to delay' the investigation, Wenstrup wrote, adding that such obstructions are 'unacceptable.'

According to the letter, the committee wanted Cuomo to sit for an interview in February.

Cuomo and his attorneys, meanwhile, have pushed for an interview date in August.