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COMPTROLLER MYCHAJLIW AGAIN CALLS FOR FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OF NYS NURSING HOME DEATHS

Modified: February 12, 2021 10:57am
Created: February 12, 2021 10:57am

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February 12, 2021

Hon. Charles Schumer                 
Majority Leader
United States Senate
322 Hart Senate Office Building   
Washington D.C. 20510

Dear Majority Leader Schumer,

On June 4th, 2020 I personally communicated with then-United States Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and presented him with correspondence requesting a federal investigation into COVID-related nursing home deaths in New York State. 

This is what I wrote last year to the HHS Secretary:

“Governor Cuomo’s decision to send seniors with a highly contagious, deadly disease around the elderly who are immune compromised was a death sentence for some.  I’m glad I spoke directly to Secretary Azar about the seriousness of this mistake.  I would welcome them to investigate New York State so this never, ever happens again.”

Source: www.erie.gov/comptroller, Comptroller Mychajliw speaks to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar about a federal investigation of N.Y.S. nursing home deaths, June 4th, 2020

 

Now more than ever, there must be a federal investigation into nursing home deaths and the publicly reported information that a top aide to Governor Cuomo lied or misled the United States Department of Justice concerning data on the actual number of seniors that died.

“Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s top aide privately apologized to Democratic lawmakers for withholding the state’s nursing home death toll from COVID-19 — telling them “we froze” out of fear that the true numbers would “be used against us” by federal prosecutors, The Post has learned.”

Source: www.nypost.com, Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa admits they hid nursing home data so feds wouldn’t find out, February 11th, 2020

I once again ask that you implore the Biden administration to immediately begin a federal investigation into needless nursing home deaths, where the most vulnerable stricken with COVID were forced into nursing homes around healthy senior citizens.  In addition to that important issue, the Justice Department must investigate the Cuomo Administration publicly admitting they lied/misled the federal government over the true data surrounding nursing home deaths.  

Thank you very much for your prompt attention to this troubling issue.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Stefan I. Mychajliw
Erie County Comptroller

 

For a PDF of the letter, please CLICK HERE.