Former N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo Accused Of ‘Inappropriately Influencing’ Aide’s Testimony In Probe Of Covid-19 Deaths In Nursing Homes

A new House of Representatives committee report claimed that former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo “inappropriately influenced” a top aide’s testimony.

In a congressional investigation into the Cuomo administration’s catastrophic March 25, 2020 mandate that saw Covid-19 patients forced into nursing homes, the aide in question, witness Jim Malatras, said that Cuomo made him “uncomfortable” with constant calls and texts while the House Select Subcommittee was pushing the nursing home mandate.

Malatras resigned in December 2021. He was the only former member of Cuomo’s office who confirmed to the Covid committee that Cuomo had “edited” a notorious New York Department of Health report and deflated the actual nursing home death count due to the mandate.

In a memo earlier this month, the House Covid panel revealed that Cuomo had extended to Malatras to “check in” at least once during the investigation. However, in an addendum to that memo, released on Wednesday, it was revealed through texts and a letter that Cuomo reached out to Malatras three times since late 2021. Each time Cuomo contacted Malatras, it was “within 48 hours of the Select Subcommittee taking a specific action in its nursing home investigation.”

Malatras and Cuomo did not have any contact from late 2021 until May 18, 2023, one day after the House subcommittee held its first hearing on the nursing home situation. Cuomo sent Malatras a text apologizing for the nature of politics. “I hear you are doing well, and if there’s anything I can ever do to help you, of course, I will…getting knocked on your ass hurts, but it’s the getting up that makes the man,” he said.

Cuomo reached out to Malatras again nine months later, two days before the subcommittee invited Malatras to testify, with the text, “Hello Jim, now that the dust has settled, and the truth is being revealed, I wanted to check in with you and see how you are doing…I am sure that you will do well because quality and talent always wins in the end. All the best, Andrew.”

In a letter sent to the Covid panel, Malatras declared that this text was Cuomo’s way of warning him he was aware Malatras had been asked to testify.

Once the subcommittee confirmed a public hearing with Cuomo on July 15, Cuomo once again texted Malatras, “Hello, my friend. Andrew Cuomo here. Give me a buzz when you get the chance, please. Nothing urgent. I hope all is good with you.”

The addendum earlier this week stated, “The evidence in this Memo supports the finding that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo acted in a manner consistent with an attempt to inappropriately influence the testimony of a witness and obstruct the Select Subcommittee’s investigation.”

Cuomo’s spokesman Rich Azzopardi, said in a statement, “This attempt to miscast the governor’s communications with a longtime former aide is more of the same from this MAGA clown committee who to date have a documented history of misrepresenting the truth and lying to the press — the fact is that the governor and Mr. Malatras did not speak until AFTER Jim’s testimony out of respect for the subcommittee’s work, a communication that is perfectly allowable and appropriate.”

The Covid panel also accused Cuomo’s lawyer, Rita Glavin, of threatening two attorneys on the majority staff with a potential disbarment complaint as they investigated the contact between Cuomo and Malatras.

Cuomo is reportedly considering running for mayor of New York City now that Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted in a corruption scandal.