For years, the cries of grieving families have echoed in the halls of power — dismissed, deflected and ignored.
Now, with the Department of Justice finally opening a criminal investigation into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for allegedly lying to Congress about his administration’s role in New York’s nursing home COVID deaths, we have our first real glimmer of hope.
This is a moment of reckoning. And it’s long, long overdue.
More than 15,000 seniors perished in New York’s nursing homes after Cuomo’s infamous March 25, 2020, directive forced facilities to accept COVID-positive patients.
The result was as deadly as it was predictable.
But what followed was arguably even worse: a calculated coverup.
Cuomo and his inner circle allegedly doctored a state Health Department report in July 2020 to conceal the true death toll.
While families buried loved ones, Cuomo polished his image, published a book and collected accolades — including an Emmy — built on fiction.
This wasn’t just a policy failure.
It was a betrayal.
And for over five years, grieving families like ours were gaslit and told to move on.
That’s why Voices for Seniors was formed — not just by us after the tragic deaths of our loved ones but by a collective of heartbroken, determined citizens who came together to speak for the voiceless.
We represent over 15,000 families demanding what we were never given: answers, transparency and justice.
We’ve spent years fighting for the truth while Cuomo played politics with our pain.
And now, some are acting shocked that the DOJ is investigating him?
Please.
Of course Cuomo lied.
The criminal investigation is not only justified — it’s necessary.
He knowingly misled Congress by downplaying his administration’s role in obscuring the true number of nursing home deaths, all to protect his political ambitions.
This isn’t speculation; it’s the reason federal prosecutors are now involved.
The investigation exists because the facts — not political vendettas — demand accountability.
Not partisan warfare
Let’s be clear:
This is not about partisan warfare.
The virus didn’t discriminate along party lines — and neither should justice.
This is about human dignity.
About whether public officials can knowingly mislead the nation during a public health crisis and walk away unscathed.
The fact that it took this long for a DOJ investigation to be launched speaks volumes about the political insulation that has protected Cuomo.
But no one — no matter how powerful — is above the law.
And no family should be forced to spend years screaming into the void for the truth.
This investigation is not “election interference.”
It is not a “witch hunt.”
It is the bare minimum accountability for a man who has done everything in his power to escape it.
And let’s not ignore the timing: Cuomo is floating a political comeback — a run for New York City mayor — counting on voters to forget the trauma he inflicted on thousands of families.
But we haven’t forgotten.
And we won’t let others forget, either.
Voices for Seniors will continue to fight on behalf of those who no longer can.
We are committed to full cooperation with the DOJ and will not rest until the truth is fully revealed and accountability is served.
The era of impunity must end.
The coverup must end.
And the silence?
That ended the moment we stood up and said: Enough.
Vivian Zayas is founder of the advocacy group Voices for Seniors, where Tracey Alvino is a board member.
This story originally appeared on NYPost
