Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, issued a subpoena on Tuesday to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, demanding the release of key documents related to nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. The records are part of an ongoing investigation into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s policies, which are believed to have worsened the death toll among the elderly.
The House subcommittee originally requested these documents in November 2023. Despite Hochul’s promises of transparency, her administration has delayed providing the records, drawing criticism from the committee. The requested materials relate to Cuomo’s decision to place COVID-positive patients into nursing homes, a move that has been blamed for thousands of avoidable deaths.
Wenstrup’s subpoena highlighted specific documents that have been withheld, including a series of emails from April and May 2020. These emails, titled “Draft Nursing Home Plan,” are expected to provide insight into how Cuomo’s administration developed its policies. Additionally, the committee is seeking information regarding a directive from May 2020 that required nursing home residents to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before being admitted.
The executive chamber has acknowledged withholding some documents, which has hindered the investigation. Many of the materials turned over to the subcommittee were incomplete or heavily redacted, raising concerns about the transparency of Hochul’s administration.
The subpoena represents the House committee’s ongoing effort to hold Cuomo and Hochul accountable for their roles in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. As the investigation intensifies, the focus remains on ensuring transparency and justice for the families of those who died in New York’s nursing homes.
