Senator Martucci Statement on NYS Attorney General Report

“I appreciated Attorney General Leticia James’ report concerning the failure of the New York State Department of Health (DOH) to adequately protect our seniors living in nursing homes from COVID. Her report clearly indicates that DOH engaged in a cover-up in order to underreport the tragic death toll. However, what the AG’s lengthy report did not do was attempt to hold anyone in government accountable for what occurred. Only two pages of the report were dedicated to the Department of Health’s failures. Just recently, our Attorney General filed a political lawsuit against the NYPD, but yesterday she demonstrated that she feels no inclination to use her office’s considerable powers under the law to investigate a real crime and cover-up. We have heard enough words, now is the time for action. Therefore, today, I will be signing a letter to our Congressional delegation with my colleagues asking for an immediate update on the investigation by the United States Department of Justice into the DOH handling of this matter.

“I am also calling on the Attorney General to do much more than merely issue a report or punish a small number of nursing homes for violations. The Attorney General should use the full and significant powers of her office to subpoena the Department of Health, Commissioner Zucker, and anyone else who may have information about this situation. We need to know about any conversations surrounding the issuance of the DOH directive to nursing homes to accept COVID positive patients and investigate the cover-up that followed. The families of those who died deserve justice, and justice will only come after the truth is revealed and those responsible are held to account.”

Mike Martucci is serving his first term as the Senator for the 42nd NYS Senate District which comprises all of Sullivan County and parts of Orange, Ulster, and Delaware counties. He is the ranking member of the Senate Committees on Developmental Disabilities and Small Business, Commerce and Economic Development. Mike is a small businessman who employed hundreds of people locally at his former company, Quality Bus Service, which was responsible for safely transporting thousands of school children each day in and near the 42nd senate district. Mike and his wife Erin own a family-farm in the Town of Westtown and established a family foundation to support local women and children in need, educational opportunities, job creation, and agriculture initiatives. Mike and Erin have three children and live in the Town of Wawayanda.

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