A New York lawmaker alleges that Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) threatened his profession over accusations that the governor’s administration lined up the COVID-19 dying toll among the many state’s nursing residence residents.
Democratic Assemblyman Ron Kim told CNN that the governor known as him final week and stated he “hadn’t seen his wrath and he can destroy me.”
“Cuomo called me directly on Thursday to threaten my career if I did not cover up for Melissa [DeRosa] and what she said,” Kim informed the outlet.
Cuomo has acquired an outpouring of criticism over allegations that he lined up the true variety of coronavirus-related deaths at nursing properties throughout the state. And final week, prime Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa acknowledged in a personal digital name with lawmakers that the governor’s administration had withheld knowledge on the deaths from state lawmakers for months as a result of state officers “froze” over worries that the data was “going to be used against us” by then-President Donald Trump.
Kim, who represents Queens, informed CNN that Cuomo tried pressuring him into releasing a press release in assist of the governor.
“He tried to pressure me to issue a statement, and it was a very traumatizing experience,” Kim stated. He added that Cuomo informed him “‘we’re in this business together and we don’t cross certain lines,’ and he said I hadn’t seen his wrath and that he can destroy me.”
Kim’s spouse additionally informed CNN she overheard parts of the decision, together with Cuomo utilizing the phrases “my wrath.”
An adviser for Cuomo denied Kim’s description of the decision.
“No man has ever spoken to me like that in my entire life,” Kim informed CNN. “At some point he tried to humiliate me, asking: ‘Are you a lawyer? I didn’t think so. You’re not a lawyer.’ It almost felt like in retrospect he was trying to bait me and anger me and say something inappropriate. I’m glad I didn’t.”
Kim stated he has employed a lawyer out of warning.
Last week, a reporter asked Cuomo if state Attorney General Letitia James ought to examine the allegations towards the governor and his workforce.
“There’s nothing to investigate there,” Cuomo responded.
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