A majority of New Yorkers see Gov. Andrew Cuomo as being to blame for the state's excess nursing home deaths, if not criminally then at least ethically, according to the latest Marist College poll.
A plurality (41%) agrees Cuomo's COVID-19 response, including mandating nursing homes to take in COVID-19 infected seniors at the start of the pandemic, was at least unethical.
Another 19% said Cuomo is criminally negligent, while just 27% believe the anti-Trump Democrat did nothing wrong.
The New York Post broke the exclusive report of a top Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa admitted to a pair of Democrat lawmakers the administration withheld data to avoid an investigation by the Trump administration Justice Department into the deaths of New York's nursing home and assisted-living facility residents.
Republicans had already put Cuomo under public fire for his mandate long-term facilities not turn away COVID-19 positive seniors, particularly because the elderly were well-known to be the most vulnerable to a severe case from infection by the global virus.
The FBI and the Eastern District of New York are now reportedly investigating the Cuomo administration and the affect of their COVID-19 restrictions on deaths in the past year of the pandemic.
The poll also found a 18-point drop on Cuomo's approval rating, but a surprising majority still approves of how Cuomo has handled the pandemic in his state at 54%, the Post reported.
Cuomo's overall job performance, likely tied to his COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions statewide, has fallen 1 point below 50% after being at a 66% majority in July's poll, per the Post.
Even Democrats are abandoning him, as 28% now disapprove of his job performance compared to just 9% in July's poll.
"Cuomo's approval rating, which was sky high in the summer, has returned to its pre-pandemic level," The Marist Poll Director Dr. Lee M. Miringoff told the Post. "Should Cuomo decide to seek a fourth term, these results suggest it will be a challenge. That said, his current numbers are comparable to what they were when he faced the voters last time."
The Marist poll interviewed 953 New Yorkers between Feb. 15-17 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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