After propping up New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo’s lie-laced defense of his corruption in a Monday press conference, the broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) refused to continue covering the still-exploding nursing home deaths scandal. The silence was deafening, especially since state Democrats seemed to be moving to remove him from office. And there were also reports alleging Cuomo was privately threatening the careers of the Democrats opposing him.
In the two days after the press conference, momentum built for what Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier described as “a rebellion from fellow Democrats” as they publicly denounced Cuomo, called him out for being a liar, and began moving to strip him of his emergency power and get the pieces in place for an impeachment.
“New York Governor Andrew Cuomo being called a liar by members of his own party,” reported correspondent Bryan Llenas on Tuesday’s Special Report. “At the cover of the New York Post declaring the embattled Governor is in a ‘tailspin’ a day after he held a news conference denying his administration engage in a cover-up by withholding nursing home death toll data from lawmakers and the public, in an effort to downplay the extent of the nursing home crisis.”
Llenas went on to read the critical public comments New York Democratic lawmakers were leveling at their corrupt Governor:
A spokesman for New York State Assembly Speaker tweeted, “other than what was in the news, the Speaker had no knowledge of the official DOJ inquiry.” Democrat state Senator Jessica Ramos wrote, “Trash, no one believes you.” Democratic New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi tweeted, “Cuomo's press conference was riddled with lies, theater, and deflection.” And Democratic Assembly member Yuh-Line Niou said: “Cuomo's comments were frightening because for their blatant goal to mislead.”
“At least 14 Democratic state senators are calling for Cuomo's COVID emergency executive powers to be stripped away,” he added.
And on Wednesday, things heated up as reports arose alleging Cuomo was privately reaching out to certain New York Democrats and threatening them.
“New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in a telephone news conference today, attacked the personal integrity of Democratic Assemblyman Ron Kim who is pushing for Cuomo to be investigated,” Llenas reported.
According to Kim, and shared by Llenas, Cuomo allegedly called him up and “threaten my career if I did not cover up for Melissa DeRosa.” He also claimed Cuomo said he “hadn't seen his wrath, and that he can destroy me.”
Of course, Cuomo denied that call ever happened. But since the alleged threats were filled with the same empty bravado of something his brother Chris “Fredo” Cuomo would say, it rings true.
Further, Llenas read from a letter from state Democrats calling on Cuomo’s emergency powers to be stripped:
The letter reading in part, “it is now unambiguously clear that this governor has engaged in an intentional obstruction of justice. This is a necessary first step in beginning to write the criminal wrongs of this governor and his administration. We implore you to set aside any concerns of loyalty or disloyalty to this governor, or that this matter is politicized.”
“Kim is one of nine state Democrats who signed a letter accusing Cuomo of obstruction of justice, urging their Democratic colleagues to strip the Governor of his COVID-19 emergency powers, and setting the stage for possible impeachment,” he added.
The broadcast network blackout of the possible impeachment of their golden COVID cafe was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships on Kia on ABC, Ford Motor Company on CBS, and Consumer Cellular on NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund. And CBS Evening News has asked people to text anchor Norah O’Donnell at this number: (202) 217-1107.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
February 16, 2021
6:10:59 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing a rebellion from fellow Democrats over his actions in the coronavirus pandemic. They’re accusing the governor of lying to them about COVID deaths in nursing homes following his attempt to damage control Monday. Correspondent Bryan Llenas has tonight’s update from Brooklyn.
[Cuts to video]
BRYAN LLENAS: New York governor Andrew Cuomo being called a liar by members of his own party. At the cover of the New York Post declaring the embattled Governor is in a “tailspin” a day after he held a news conference denying his administration engage in a cover-up by withholding nursing home death toll data from lawmakers and the public, in an effort to downplay the extent of the nursing home crisis.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): There is nothing to investigate. We should have done a better job in providing information. We should have done a better job of knocking down the disinformation. You'd never knocked down all of these conspiracy theories.
LLENAS: It took six months for the Cuomo administration to reveal that more than 15,000 residents have died of COVID-19 in the state’s long-term care facilities, much higher than the about 9,000 reported by Cuomo.
Cuomo said his office informed state lawmakers the delay was because they were busy responding to a federal probe by President Trump’s Department of Justice. But Democrats say this is not true, criticizing the governor in a barrage of tweets.
A spokesman for New York State Assembly Speaker tweeted, “other than what was in the news, the Speaker had no knowledge of the official DOJ inquiry.” Democrat state Senator Jessica Ramos wrote, “Trash, no one believes you.” Democratic New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi tweeted, “Cuomo's press conference was riddled with lies, theater, and deflection.” And Democratic Assembly member Yuh-Line Niou said: “Cuomo's comments were frightening because for their blatant goal to mislead.”
At least 14 Democratic state senators are calling for Cuomo's COVID emergency executive powers to be stripped away.
JOHN LIU (D-NY state senate): A year ago, those emergency powers were necessary. It today, they no longer seem necessary.
[Cuts back to live]
LLENAS: And despite critics’ concerns that the Governor has undermined the public’s trust, Cuomo says the pandemic is best managed under him and his emergency power to make unilateral governing decisions. Bret.
BAIER: Bryan Llenas in Brooklyn. Brian, thanks.
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
February 17, 2021
6:14:42 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: The fallout over the COVID nursing home scandal keeps getting worse for New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo. Tonight, members of his own party are accusing him of a serious crime. Correspondent Bryan Llenas tells us what that is from New York tonight.
[Cuts to video]
BRYAN LLENAS: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in a telephone news conference today, attacked the personal integrity of Democratic Assemblyman Ron Kim who is pushing for Cuomo to be investigated.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): My office, more than me, has had a long and hostile relationship with Assemblyman Kim. He has a meeting last week with other legislators and members of my staff. On the tape of the meeting, he says positive things. There's then a story that moves in the New York Post where he says the exact opposite.
LLENAS: Kim is 1 of 9 state Democrats who signed a letter accusing Cuomo of obstruction of justice, urging their Democratic colleagues to strip the Governor of his COVID-19 emergency powers, and setting the stage for possible impeachment.
The letter reading in part, “it is now unambiguously clear that this governor has engaged in an intentional obstruction of justice. This is a necessary first step in beginning to write the criminal wrongs of this governor and his administration. We implore you to set aside any concerns of loyalty or disloyalty to this governor, or that this matter is politicized.”
This, after Cuomo’s top aide, Melissa DeRosa reportedly admitted to state Democratic lawmakers in a private meeting they withheld releasing the total number of nursing home residents killed by coronavirus, for fear it would be used against them in a federal investigation by the Trump administration. Assemblyman Kim was in that meeting.
ASSEMBLYMAN RON KIM (D-NY): She just implicated herself of committing a potential cover-up.
LLENAS: After speaking out, Kim claims Cuomo personally called him last week to, quote, “threaten my career if I did not cover up for Melissa DeRosa.” Kim says Cuomo warned him that he, quote, “hadn't seen his wrath, and that he can destroy me.”
[Cuts back to live]
And in a statement tonight, Governor Cuomo's office says, Kim is lying. The governor never called him to threaten to destroy -- never threatened to destroy him in that phone call. Meanwhile, Cuomo claims there's no need for an investigation because there's no cover-up. Bret.
BAIER: Brian, thank you.
