Cuomo faces rising scrutiny over COVID-19 nursing home deaths

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is facing mounting scrutiny over his handling of COVID-19 nursing home deaths after revelations that a top aide said officials "froze" providing information about the deaths after questions from the Department of Justice (DOJ) last year.

The remarks have set off a renewed firestorm over Cuomo's handling of the deaths and whether his administration sought to cover up details. They also undermine the star profile the governor developed on the national level at the start of the pandemic as he gave signature daily press conferences and sparred with then-President Trump.

The Cuomo aide, Melissa DeRosa, said on a conference call with state legislators that the freeze in providing information came “because then we were in a position where we weren't sure if what we were going to give to the Department of Justice or what we give to you guys, what we start saying was going to be used against us while we weren't sure if there was going to be an investigation.”