Joe Piscopo, host of The Joe Piscopo Show on New York’s 970 AM, has had a history of criticizing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. In 2018, Piscopo took issue with Cuomo’s statement that “America was never that great to begin with”. Earlier this month on his program, Piscopo discussed Cuomo’s alleged refusal to listen to New York Health officials concerning COVID vaccines, leading several prominent figures in the department to resign. When the news broke Thursday night about Cuomo’s aide admitting they hid the number of New York nursing home deaths, Piscopo addressed the issue on Friday morning’s show.
“I always try to stay positive and I hate to be political, but there is really no way to spin this story positively. Governor Cuomo basically forced patients back into nursing homes, COVID spread like wildfire and then they tried to hide the numbers. That pretty much encapsulates what’s going on.”
The accusations stem from Cuomo’s Executive Order to send COVID patients back to nursing homes in attempt to relieve strain on New York’s hospitals during the height of the pandemic. Governor Cuomo is meeting with President Joe Biden today and Piscopo’s guest Nick Langworthy, chairman of the New York Republican Party, says Cuomo should be arrested as soon as he arrives in Washington.
“Look, he tried to cover up over 9,000 deaths,” Langworthy said. “That’s a high crime. Impeachment is coming to New York very soon and he should be arrested as soon as he gets to Washington. When the Governor signed the Executive Order to put COVID positive patients back in nursing homes, he sentenced them to death.”
Piscopo, who identifies as an Independent politically, agrees with Langworthy that the alleged cover up goes far beyond a political issue due to the loss of human life.
“This is not a Republican versus Democratic issue,” Langworthy said. “This is about the loss of life and High Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
Unlike many in today’s Talk Radio Industry, Piscopo is very measured in his criticism of Cuomo. In fact, Piscopo has said on numerous occasions that he holds the Cuomo family in high regard, particularly Andrew Cuomo’s father Mario.
“I’ve known Andrew for years and I don’t like to say bad things about people, but lives were lost apparently out of arrogance,” Piscopo said. “To be fair, President Trump has the same problem. Let me just say, humility is never a bad thing. It’s never wrong to say, ‘I’m sorry. I made a mistake’”.
Piscopo then urges Cuomo to adopt a contrite attitude if he speaks to the public about this in a press conference.
“Say I’m sorry. Say I messed up. Don’t get up there and try to excuse it away with fluff from a teleprompter. Don’t try to blame President Trump. This is not a good look and if you try to excuse it or blame someone else, you just dig a big hole much deeper.”