Voters Must Say No to Andrew Cuomo as N.Y. Mayor

(The following opinion piece does not represent an endorsement of any political candidate or party on the part of Newsmax.)

It's been close to a decade since I've attended any political function in the "People's Republic of" New York City. After moving out, I washed my hands of that one-party cesspool and left it to its own devices.

But this past weekend, I broke that streak for a truly unique event in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn. Like much of Brooklyn, Cobble Hill is a heavily Democratic enclave. But on this occasion, it became neutral ground where several candidates for Mayor of New York City — Democrats, Republicans, socialists, conservatives, and independents — spoke with a single voice:

Voters must stop Andrew Cuomo from becoming mayor.

Five years ago, Andrew Cuomo issued an order during the COVID-19 pandemic to nursing homes: "No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the NH solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19."

It got worse. In that same order, Cuomo prohibited nursing homes "from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission."

Cuomo’s policy directly led to over 15,000 nursing home residents contracting COVID and dying alone. Cuomo also barred family members from being by their loved ones’ sides in their final moments.

Don’t take my word for it: Congress’s Select Committee on the Coronavirus Pandemic found, after years of investigation, that the Cuomo administration recklessly directed New York nursing homes and long-term care facilities to admit COVID-positive and potentially COVID-positive patients. As a result, New York’s most vulnerable population was needlessly exposed to the virus.

It’s beyond unconscionable.

Unfortunately, I have little confidence in voters in the "People’s Republic of" New York City who, as former Mayor Rudy Giuliani put it, "essentially [represent] the core Democratic voters to whom a Cuomo appeals." They've been brainwashed.

If voters won’t stop Andrew Cuomo, then Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice must step in, investigate, and ultimately prosecute him.

This is not something I say lightly. I know Cuomo is a candidate for office, and I know we've had more than our fill of partisan prosecutions. But this is not one of those cases. The evidence is overwhelming and warrants, at minimum, a DOJ investigation into Cuomo’s catastrophic leadership during the pandemic.

First, Congress has already referred Cuomo to the DOJ for criminal prosecution. As noted, Congress has already made findings that the March 25 order, which forced nursing homes to accept COVID-19-positive patients, was—as Democratic Rep. Ami Bera put it — "medical malpractice."

Moreover, evidence from the subcommittee shows that Cuomo and his administration "worked to cover up the tragic aftermath of their policy decisions in an apparent effort to shield themselves from accountability." The cover-up was so severe that Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, sent a criminal referral to the DOJ recommending that Cuomo be charged with making false statements to Congress.

If this is truly a new day at the Department of Justice, where all are equal under the law, then Attorney General Pam Bondi must, at the very least, meet with representatives of grieving families like Voices For Seniors and the dedicated advocates who organized the rally I attended. These individuals have tirelessly fought for justice on behalf of their lost loved ones.

She should listen to their stories and examine the evidence. She should revisit the congressional referral and open an investigation into Cuomo’s cover-up.

Justice delayed is justice denied, and five years is far too long to wait. These families should not have to wait another second — especially as Cuomo is just a hair’s breadth away from reclaiming public power.

Gene Berardelli is a street-smart New York-based trial attorney who has developed a solid reputation as both an election attorney successfully representing conservative candidates, and as an award-winning content creator and author of "Schnooks, Crooks, Liars and Scoundrels: A Field Guide To Identifying Political Buffoons." — Click Here Now.