Andrew Cuomo spoke in New York on November 4, 2025, after conceding the race to Zohran Mamdani. For the past six years, families of over 15,000 New Yorkers who died in nursing homes have been challenging assumptions about accountability. A letter from Rep. Claudia Tenney to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche highlights the pursuit of justice. She seeks an update on the criminal referral against former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
These individuals in nursing homes were cherished family members, each with their own history. Cuomo’s administration issued a directive in March 2020, ordering facilities to accept COVID-positive patients without testing. This led to numerous deaths. Families initially received falsified data, as later revealed by a congressional referral that showed the death toll was underreported by about 50%.
In June 2024, Cuomo testified to Congress, claiming no involvement in drafting reports. However, evidence of emails and handwritten notes suggested otherwise. The Department of Justice received the referral to investigate false statements to Congress, yet no action seemed forthcoming. Although House Oversight Chairman James Comer resubmitted the referral, silence followed.
When Cuomo ran unsuccessfully for mayor, his team argued prosecution constituted election interference. Now, the central question is whether the law applies equally to powerful figures like Cuomo. This question remains unresolved.
Voices for Seniors, launched six years ago by grieving families, continues to challenge these assumptions. Having testified before Congress and reached out to two attorneys general, they refuse to be silenced. Despite grief, they persist in seeking justice.
If children had been the victims in similar circumstances, resulting directives and falsified data would likely have prompted investigations and prosecutions. For those who lost elderly family members, time has yet to bring such accountability.
Rep. Tenney’s recent letter is a public call to action but does not compel DOJ into action. Yet, it signals that representatives still advocate for affected families. As long as people watch, the expectation remains to see whether the law holds equally for all.
Vivian Zayas, co-founder of Voices for Seniors, advocates for the organization representing families who lost loved ones in nursing homes. She testified before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in May 2023.