White House press secretary Jen Psaki dodges questions on Sunday about whether President Biden still believes Governor Andrew Cuomo represents the “gold standard” for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic amid his scandal over deaths in America. nursing homes in New York.
The president described Cuomo as “some sort of gold standard” last spring when the governor was praised for his daily televised briefings on how the state handled COVID-19.
Jon Karl, host of ABC News, asked Psaki if Biden still held that view.
“We are working with Governor Cuomo, just as we are working with governors across the country,” Psaki said, not answering the question, but noting that Cuomo is the president of the National Governors Association.
“He plays an important role in ensuring that we work closely together in getting aid to people in his state and to states across the country, and we will continue to do so.”
“And of course there will be a process. There are studies. We leave that to others to determine – the appropriate law enforcement agencies to determine how that path will evolve as we look ahead, ”said Psaki.
The FBI and U.S. attorney in Brooklyn are investigating the Cuomo administration amid revelations that have withheld the total number of nursing home residents who died from the coronavirus over fears the Trump administration would retaliate politically.
Karl continued to pressure Psaki whether Biden still had the same opinion of Cuomo.
“Well, it doesn’t always have to be a yes or no answer, Jon. I think the president is focused on his goals, his goals as president of the United States. He will continue to work with Governor Cuomo, just as he will continue to work with governors across the country, ”she said, while continuing to evade.
And I’m not here to give new labels or names for the president. I am here to communicate with you about our focus and his goals as president. “