3:56 PM, Feb 12, 2021 by Kevin Tampone

Washington — The members of New York’s Republican delegation to Congress are calling on the Justice Department to investigate Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The members sent a letter to the department asking for the probe today. Those signing include U.S. Reps. John Katko, R-Camillus, Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville and Claudia Tenney, R-New Hartford.

U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin of Shirley in Suffolk County tweeted a copy of the letter. It asks for a federal investigation into obstruction of justice by Cuomo and his administration.

The letter comesafter new disclosuresinthe New York Postthat a top aide to Cuomo acknowledged the state withheld data on the Covid-19 deaths of nursing home residents out of fear the numbers would be used against New York by President Donald Trump’s administration.

“This intentional and unconscionable coverup impacting thousands of our most vulnerable residents cannot go without consequences,” the Republican letter states.

Cuomo has been facing criticism over New York’s response to the pandemic in nursing homes for months. The disclosures in the Post story sparked a new wave of anger among Republicans and Democrats across the state.

Some Republicans  described the Cuomo administration’s conduct as criminal and called for his impeachment.

A number of Democrats are now calling for the state Legislature to  strip the emergency pandemic powers it granted Cuomo in the spring. State Sens. John Mannion and Rachel May of the Syracuse area both signed a letter saying they’re ready to rescind the governor’s powers.

May said she believes the Cuomo team’s habit of “keeping their cards close to the vest” has eroded the public trust to the point where the Legislatureshould hold hearings.

May was one of six Democratic legislators who spoke with Cuomo’s top staff Wednesday in the private meeting that was the subject of the Post story.

You can read this article in full here: https://www.syracuse.com