New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference May 27, 2020, at the National Press Club in Washington. AP photo/Jacquelyn Martin Cuomo Chooses White-Collar Firm to Represent Administration in Probe of Nursing Home COVID Death Reporting
The law firm, Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello, will represent the governor's office in the Eastern District's investigation, law firm partner Elkan Abramowitz told the Law Journal on Monday.
March 01, 2021 at 03:38 PM
3 minute read
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is turning to a white-collar firm to represent his office in a federal investigation related to the death of nursing home residents from the coronavirus, a partner at the firm told the Law Journal on Monday.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York has launched a criminal investigation into Cuomo's coronavirus task force and its handling of the virus in nursing homes, a source with knowledge of the matter told the Law Journal.
The law firm, Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello, will represent the governor's office in that investigation, law firm partner Elkan Abramowitz said Monday.
Abramowitz initially reported his firm would also be representing the governor's office in an investigation, which will be overseen by the state attorney general, into sexual harassment claims against Cuomo. But Abramowitz later said the firm is only representing the office in the federal investigation and not the investigation tied to the state attorney general.
Rich Azzopardi, senior adviser to the governor, confirmed that Abramowitz is representing the executive chamber in a Department of Justice matter.
Criticism escalated against the governor earlier this year following his administration's admission that it held off providing information to lawmakers on how many long-term care residents died from the coronavirus in hospitals.
The federal criminal investigation came after media outlets reported on comments from Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa, a source told the Law Journal.
DeRosa said the administration "froze" amid a request from the Department of Justice and criticism from then-President Donald Trump on social media.
"We froze, because then we were in a position where we weren't sure if what we were going to give to the Department of Justice or what we give to you guys, what we start saying was going to be used against us while we weren't sure if there was going to be an investigation," DeRosa said, according to a transcript released by the governor's office.
Steven M. Cohen, a legal adviser to Cuomo and a former secretary to the governor, has argued that there was no cover-up. He also defended DeRosa and said her use of the word "froze" has been taken out of context.
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