Andrew Cuomo defends COVID policies, avoids accountability in interview

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo defended his record during a recent interview as he seeks to make a political comeback by running for New York City mayor. In a two-hour discussion, he avoided taking responsibility for controversial decisions made during his time in office, particularly those related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuomo criticized left-leaning politicians, claiming they were the ones responsible for difficult situations in New York, including the gentler criminal justice laws he supported. He specifically dismissed blame for his department's March 2020 directive that required nursing homes to accept recovered COVID patients, a decision widely criticized for its potential impact on vulnerable populations. While he acknowledged that some restrictions could have been lifted sooner, Cuomo continued to insist that he did the best he could under challenging circumstances. He referred to himself as not being “a timid flower” and defended his actions regarding bail reform and other policies, suggesting that political pressures limited his options. During the interview, he also recounted policies like the Green Light Law, which allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. Cuomo displayed pride in blocking access to state database information from the Trump administration, arguing for the rights of those he believed were unjustly targeted. Cuomo dismissed accusations that he deliberately underreported nursing home deaths during the pandemic, stating that the consequences of providing incorrect data to the federal government are severe. He defended writing a book about his pandemic experiences, suggesting it was intended to help others learn from his administration's challenges. At times, Cuomo showed moments of forgetfulness about specific pandemic rules that were criticized, like requiring bars to serve food with alcohol. He also made a few slip-ups regarding names and organizations during the interview. Despite facing criticism for his green energy policies, he maintained that the goals set for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in New York were essential.