Cuomo, Stefanik clash in House COVID hearing

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo appeared before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on Tuesday to testify about his handling of patients in nursing homes in the state. He clashed and exchanged accusations of making up facts with New York Rep. Elise Stefanik.

Video transcript

My follow up is it wasn't just the directive itself.

Governor, it was the cover up this investigation found that you former governor and your most senior aides made a deliberate decision to exclude certain COVID-19 related nursing homes deaths to hide and undercount the actual mortality rate in nursing homes.

And for the public, Governor Cuomo changed the methodology of counting nursing home fatalities to exclude out of facility deaths to undercount.

Those I want to ask you, what period of time were you negotiating for your book deal?

Congresswoman?

If there is a fact in what you said?

No, I'm asking you a question.

I'm asking you a question.

What dates did you negotiate for your book deal?

That is the question before you today your question.

No, no, no.

The question that I asked the testimony says during that time, did you have any discussions with the executive chamber regarding the need for guidance?

That's not the test I'm referring to.

Absolutely.

Was the answer, Governor a you're throwing your staff under the bus.

You are culpable for this.

My question to you is when were you negotiating for your multimillion dollar advance deal for your book as seniors were dying in nursing homes.

That is the question in front of you.

You can't make up facts.

Congresswoman, you're the one making up facts.

You're the one who undercounted nursing home death.

You're the one who I want to ask right now.

You apologize today, but there are families sitting here.

I want you to turn around, look them in the eye and apologize.

What you have failed to do.

Will you do it?

This is not about political theater.

So this is about accountability.

Why did 1.2 million Americans die?

Why did, why are you?

No, no, no, no, no.

You're the former governor disgraced us.

This executive order was under your name.

It was countered to CDC and C MS.

This is about those seniors governor, they deserve to hear from you in the eye that you apologize that you were negotiating for a multimillion dollar book deal.

It is a disgrace.

There is a reason why you were the former governor of New York State and you will never hold elected office again.

I yield back.