Merrick Garland’s response on Monday to a question about a potential conflict of interest in any investigation by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, “was not good enough,” said Representative Elise Stefanik, RN.Y., to “Fox News Primetime”.
During Garland’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, noted that acting Manhattan attorney, Audrey Strauss, is the mother-in-law of Melissa DeRosa, an important adviser to Cuomo. DeRosa admitted to Democratic state lawmakers earlier this month that the governor’s administration hid data on deaths in nursing homes because officials “froze” with the prospect of a federal investigation.
“Are you going to at least commit to not having the investigation done by a person with a conflict of interest?” Cruz asked Garland.
“With all these investigations, the Department of Justice is open to evidence of fraud, false statements, violations of the law. They usually start properly at the United States attorney general’s office, ”replied Garland. “I don’t know any of the facts, but I can guarantee that someone with a conflict of interest will not be conducting an investigation of any kind. “
GARLAND VOTES DOJ CUOMO’S NURSING PROBE TO AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Stefanik told presenter Katie Pavlich that Garland’s response shows that “he is not reading the basic news”.
As the American people know, this is a serious corruption scandal at the highest levels of the New York State government, “she said.” We need a much clearer response than indicated to be AG [commiting to] making sure that there is an independent and fair apolitical investigation. And when it comes to obstructing justice, these are not just accusations, Katie, that was recorded.
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“It was recorded on a Zoom conference call with members of the New York State Assembly, which is why it is also the Democrats who are talking about the need for an independent federal investigation and also, some are proposing the impeachment of the governor and the governor, I said, should resign. “
Families of those who lost loved ones in New York’s nursing homes, added Stefanik, “deserve a commitment to the nominee AG that this would be an independent investigation, and he better hurry up quickly because that answer is not good enough for the American people. “