Congressman Ron Kim said on Wednesday that he received overwhelming support from his colleagues amid clashes with Governor Andrew Cuomo over the death toll in the COVID-19 nursing home.
During an appearance on WNYC’s “The Brian Lehrer Show,” Queens Democrat said it “had a personal conversation” with Assembly President Carl Heastie (D-Bronx).
“He is 150 percent on my side,” said Kim.
“I know he is with me.”
Kim – who on Wednesday accused Cuomo of threatening him during a phone call last week – also said he has “a multitude of colleagues making statements, calling me, informing me of the same type of threats they have suffered”.
“We are an equal branch of government and we cannot help but do our job,” he said.
At one point, a caller who called the program claimed that conservative interests were behind the Post’s exclusive revelation that Governor Melissa DeRosa’s secretary privately admitted that the Cuomo government hid the true number of deaths in nursing homes by fear that federal prosecutors would use it “against us.”
Kim noted that the story was made public by other major media outlets and defended the integrity of a Post reporter whom Cuomo chose to be criticized during a news conference on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Kim – whose uncle died in a nursing home in April after suffering from symptoms of COVID-19 – accused Cuomo of giving health facilities a “freedom from prison” card under a law granting facilities and hospitals almost complete immunity from liability during the pandemic.
He argued that Cuomo, a Democratic colleague, is very “pro-business” when it comes to owners of nursing homes and hospitals, rather than allying himself with residents, patients, employees and their families.
He also linked Cuomo’s position to what he said was $ 1.25 million in political contributions to the governor and the state’s Democratic Party and said he hired a lawyer after the governor’s call to him last week.
In a prepared statement, Heastie said, “I have always had a great working relationship with Ron since he joined me at the Assembly in 2013.”
“Since I have been a spokesperson, I feel it is my focus and duty to help and support all the members and constituents they represent,” he added.
The statement came after a Wednesday in which Heastie said: “Now, more than ever, everyone involved needs to lower the temperature and work together to move this state forward and overcome this pandemic. That should be our focus. “
Cuomo’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but during his press conference on Wednesday, the governor argued that the immunity granted to nursing homes and hospitals was included in a budget bill passed by the state Senate and the Assembly.