Cuomo’s Approval Rating Drops 6 Points Following Reports on Nursing Home Scandal

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D)’s approval rating appears to be taking a hit as news that state officials withheld data on the number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes has led lawmakers to call for the revocation of his emergency powers and even his impeachment.

A new Morning Consult poll released on Monday found that 57% of respondents say they approve of the governor’s job performance, which is six points lower than it was earlier this month.

Eighty-one percent of Democrats say they approve of his job performance. However, the number of Democrats who say they strongly approve of his job performance has dropped nine points since it was reported that his top aide told Democratic lawmakers that officials intentionally withheld data on COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.

Cuomo’s top aide, Melissa DeRosa, told state lawmakers during a phone call that administration officials did not share data on the number of deaths from the coronavirus in nursing homes with them because they were afraid about the prospect of a federal investigation.

“And basically, we froze,” DeRosa said. “Because then we were in a position where we weren’t sure if what we were going to give to the Department of Justice, or what we give to you guys, what we start saying, was going to be used against us while we weren’t sure if there was going to be an investigation.”

However, she