Biden’s DOJ won’t investigate Dem governors accused of causing nursing home deaths
President Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) announced they will not open an investigation to determine whether Democratic governors’ controversial pandemic regulations violated government-run nursing home residents’ civil rights.
“Where is the justice for nursing home victims and their grieving families,” Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) said after hearing the DOJs decision. “These deadly orders contradicted the CDC’s guidance, and needlessly endangered the most vulnerable among us to the deadly COVID-19 virus.”
In March 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) ordered that government-run nursing homes could not turn away COVID-19 patients. Reports show that over 9,000 COVID positive New Yorkers were transferred into nursing homes between March and May 2020. In April 2021, reports alleged that Cuomo’s administration intentionally covered up accurate death counts in the state.
“Governor Cuomo in New York intentionally tried to cover up the true death toll resulting from his mandate,” Scalise said. “Grieving families deserve answers and accountability. It’s unconscionable that Biden’s Department of Justice refuses to investigate the deadly actions that went against CDC’s medical guidance taken in these states.”
21 days after Cuomo announced his nursing home regulations, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) followed suit, requiring Michigan’s nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients as they recover. Whitmer’s order took it one step further, though, designating some homes to serve as “regional hubs” for infected patients. In a March 2021 interview, Whitmer said her nursing home policies “actually saved a lot of lives.” Later on, it was discovered that Whitmer’s former health director was paid $155,000 after resigning in exchange for “releasing all claims against” the state in a taxpayer funded alleged hush money coverup.
“I was stunned to hear Robert Gordon signed a taxpayer funded hush money agreement after his departure from the Whitmer administration,” state Rep. Matt Hall (R), said. “It raises questions about what Gov. Whitmer is trying to keep quiet about her administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In June, the Justice Department sued the state of Georgia after the state passed a voter integrity bill (SB 202) that requires voter ID, enables secure ballot drop boxes, and expands early voting periods. Democrats, including Biden, branded SB 202 as “the new Jim Crow,” but Georgia’s law provides more ballot boxes and longer early vote periods than Biden’s home state, Delaware.
“This is Jim Crow in the 21st century,” Biden said. “It must end.”
The FBI is reportedly investigating Cuomo over his handling of nursing homes during the pandemic. 12,743 long-term nursing home residents died in New York last year as a result of COVID-19.