Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), already swamped with multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and coverups of COVID-19 nursing home deaths, finds himself in yet another scandal after reports by Times Union, the Washington Post, and the New York Times revealed that he’d used his position to secure priority COVID-19 testing for family members and political VIPs.
Not only did the governor reportedly order health officials to test his family when most other New Yorkers had little testing access in March last year, he also made sure the samples were rushed to Wadsworth Center, a lab in Albany with limited processing capacity at the time. The lab employees who had to analyze the tests were made to stay late into the night to complete their work. Additionally, the sample deliveries were reportedly escorted by the State Police.
Dr. Eleanor Adams, an epidemiologist who now serves as a top aide to Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker, was reportedly directed to administer the tests to the governor’s family members, which took several days.
Brother
Adams reportedly tested CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who is the governor’s younger brother, and his family at their home in the Hamptons. They received the test several times, according to the New York Times.
One of Chris’ tests gave a positive result, which he announced on air on March 31 last year.
In response to the new reports, CNN spokesman Matt Dornic said in a statement that the network does not “get involved in the medical decisions of” its employees.
“However, it is not surprising that in the earliest days of a once-in-a-century global pandemic, when Chris was showing symptoms and was concerned about possible spread, he turned to anyone he could for advice and assistance, as any human being would,” Dornic added.
Mother
Cuomo’s mother, Matilda Cuomo, also reportedly received priority testing.
And At Least One Sister
At least one of Cuomo’s three sisters — Maria, Margaret and Madeline — got tested in the early phase as well. The reports did not identify which sister.
Unnamed New York Big Shots
The Times Union and New York Times report that Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive director Rick Cotton and his wife were given priority testing, as did Metropolitan Transportation Authority Patrick J. Foye. Government nurses were also ordered to personally test dozens of unnamed VIPs, including some perched in Manhattan penthouses, who were internally referred to as “specials,” according to the Washington Post.
But a but a but a Hillary’s emails.
That is this is the 3rd article I have read today from TPM, and therefore my third comment noting this bias problem, on the Governor of New York giving privilege to his family members, something I bet happens in every state by officials at all levels, but have read no recent article on Florida Governor Ron De’Santis selling vaccine to the highest bidder.
I got to ‘jump the line’ because I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL with other problems and they wanted to start ‘tracking’. So WTF? Should I be shamed??? C’mon.
It really hurts when it is one of our own. I have learned from this that there are not Democratic bullies and Republican bullies, but just bullies. m
By the way, the same thing goes for competence. In Pennsylvania Governor Wolf is blowing off the part of the state that elects Democrats statewide— the Philly suburbs. They are all led by Democrats and not only is he not engaging with them on vaccine distribution.Every news source in PA, including all of the major papers and the public interest oriented Spotlight PA which has replaced most papers’ Harrisburg bureaus, report that those counties, among the most populous in PA. are being severely shortchanged on vaccine. He is cutting the number of sites where vaccine would be available to 2 for all four counties. Elected Democratic officials will pay for this.
Reminds me of the way conservatives love to play media critic any time one of their own has been busted doing something shady.
We all know Ron DeSantis is scum. And there’s no shortage of articles about that. That doesn’t go one inch toward showing that Cuomo’s behavior here is okay.
Okay, so you went to the hospital, with other problems, and they wanted to test you, and you’re wondering if you should be shamed?
Sounds like no, no you should not.
But.
If your brother used his political power to arrange for you to be tested at home, at the state’s expense, when testing resources were scarce. And if he arranged for the samples to be escorted to the lab by state police…well, still you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. You’re just a private citizen. You’re not the one abusing your power for private benefit.
But your brother? He’s got a lot to answer for. He’s got a duty to use the powers of his office to serve the public to which he’s answerable, not for his own private benefit.