Latest news with #MelissaDeRosa
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Andrew Cuomo criminal probe has some questioning President Trump's motives
The disclosure that Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York and current candidate for New York City mayor, is the subject of a federal investigation into COVID nursing home deaths is roiling the political world. The question on the minds of many is whether the development coming so close to the Democratic primary will affect its outcome. Some Dem mayoral candidates question DOJ's motives Despite constant attacks from his opponents in the Democratic field, Cuomo has leaned into his role guiding New York through the perilous time of the pandemic. "It was the greatest health crisis in our history, and when New Yorkers were desperate for leadership, Andrew Cuomo delivered. He didn't just provide information in those daily COVID briefings, he acted," his first ad says. But now, with the disclosure that the Department of Justice is investigating allegations Cuomo lied to Congress during its probe into COVID deaths in nursing homes, there is much speculation about whether the development coming so close to the the June 24 primary helps or hurts his effort to become mayor. His opponents hope it hurts, though some question the motives of President Trump. "New Yorkers should turn the page on the disgraced former governor on June 24, but I find the Trump administration's actions to be dangerous," Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani said. Melissa DeRosa, Cuomo's closest aide during the pandemic, also questioned the president's motives. "Trump wants a mayor who will bend the knee [or be up his butt]. Andrew Cuomo is his nightmare come true," DeRosa posted on social media. Others appear to welcome the probe Those who lost loved ones who were nursing home patients say they want justice. "We're shocked that he would even dare run," said Vivian Zayas, of the group Voices for Seniors. "We want accountability. We want someone to be held accountable, and we wanted answers." Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for reelection as an independent, said he didn't want to pile on, but then he did. "I have made it extremely clear of my disappointment on what happened during COVID, the disproportionate amount of resources that went to communities of color," Adams said. Cuomo's lead in NYC will only get bigger, pundit says Political experts say the nursing home charges are already baked into feelings about Cuomo and he's still leading in the polls. "This is going to make him look like the rival that the Trump administration wants to take out, and it's going to embolden a lot of Democrats to continue supporting Andrew Cuomo in the next four weeks. We're going to see his poll numbers go up. No question about it,' said JC Polanco, a professor at Mount Saint Vincent University in the Bronx. On Tuesday night, when the news broke of the feds' investigation of Cuomo, his spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, labeled it "election interference" and "lawfare." However, on Wednesday he was even more combative, saying if Mr. Trump doesn't want Cuomo as mayor, he should see his latest ad -- the one that he brags about the former governor's leadership during the pandemic. CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer reached out to Cuomo on Wednesday morning and asked for an interview, but he didn't respond. It appears, for now, he's letting his team do the talking, who say he testified truthfully before Congress.
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Cuomo Blasts Reported DOJ Probe Against Him, Calls It Election Interference
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running in this year's New York City mayoral race, accused President Donald Trump's administration of engaging in election interference, following reports that the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation into his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the New York Times, which first reported on the matter, the U.S. attorney's office in Washington opened an investigation into his testimony he gave to Congress about his handling of the pandemic, where several GOP lawmakers have accused him of lying. In a statement shared with multiple outlets, a spokesperson for Cuomo said: 'This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple — something President Trump and his top Department of Justice officials say they are against.' The spokesperson said Cuomo's team has not been informed about the investigation and asked why someone would 'leak it now,' implying that it was being done to impact the New York Mayoral race. He then added that the former governor ' testified truthfully to the best of his recollection about events from four years earlier, and he offered to address any follow-up questions from the subcommittee.' A Marist poll of the Democratic Mayoral Primary released last week showed Cuomo leading by a significant margin. A former key aide for Cuomo, Melissa DeRosa, tweeted about the reported probe, saying: 'Trump wants a mayor who will bend the knee (or be up his butt)…Andrew Cuomo is his nightmare come true…enter law-fare…and a galvanized democratic base.' 74%. That is the percentage of New York City Democratic primary voters who want a candidate who 'will try to oppose President Donald Trump as much as possible,' according to the Marist Poll.
