“We Need the Truth!” as Congress Refers Cuomo to DOJ

Gene Berardelli and Ross Galloway sat down with Vivian Zayas, co-founder of Voices for Seniors, to discuss the recent criminal referral filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) by House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer against disgraced former N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Zayas, whose mother tragically passed away in a New York nursing home during the early days of COVID-19, shared her reaction to the news, her deeply personal story of loss and love, and the broader fight for accountability tied to Cuomo’s disastrous March 25, 2020 nursing home order.

Who Are Vivian Zayas and Voices for Seniors?

Vivian Zayas describes herself as an “accidental activist.” After the heartbreaking loss of her mother during the pandemic, she co-founded Voices for Seniors to shine a light on what happened to thousands of families like hers.

Her mother entered a Long Island nursing home for short-term rehab following surgery. But soon after, then-Governor Cuomo issued a directive that locked families out and forced nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients — explicitly barring testing before reentry. Zayas’ mother became one of more than 15,000 seniors who died after that March 25, 2020 directive, a policy that deviated from CDC guidance and amplified the scale of the tragedy.

Vivian recalls the heartbreak of what she thought would be a temporary goodbye — never imagining it would be the last time she saw her mother. That pain now fuels her relentless push for truth and accountability. Her group, Voices for Seniors, provided emotional testimony and crucial information to the Congressional Coronavirus subcommittee — doing the hard work many elected officials ignored.

You might recall our recent coverage of a bipartisan rally where NYC mayoral candidates of all political stripes stood in solidarity with Zayas and others calling for justice.

Cuomo’s Comeback and Criminal Referral

Despite resigning in disgrace amid a slew of scandals — including the underreporting of nursing home deaths and workplace misconduct allegations — Andrew Cuomo is now trying to stage a comeback as the leading candidate for NYC Mayor.

It’s a move that Zayas — and we here at Buffoon of the Week — find not only audacious, but deeply offensive.

As Cuomo leads the Democratic field on the campaign trail, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer renewed his criminal referral to the DOJ, accusing Cuomo of perjuring himself before Congress. The allegations center on Cuomo’s misrepresentation of nursing home data and the issuance of a directive that contradicted CDC guidance — raising serious questions about both his honesty and his intent.

Cuomo’s Irredeemable Narcissism

Beyond poor decision-making, Cuomo’s defining flaw, in our view, is his ego.

As Gene Berardelli noted in his recent op-ed for Newsmax, Cuomo’s pandemic-era self-promotion bordered on delusional:

• He signed a multi-million-dollar book deal praising his own COVID “leadership” — which publisher HarperCollins later canceled.
• He commissioned a bizarre “flatten the curve” poster featuring himself.
• He accepted an Emmy Award for his daily COVID briefings — an award he was forced to return after the scandals broke.

And yet, Cuomo still refuses to apologize to Zayas or any of the families who lost loved ones. Instead, he smeared grieving advocates like Zayas as “vile” during a radio interview last year.

That’s not just arrogance — it’s the absence of empathy.

Why Vivian Zayas Deserves to Be Heard

Vivian Zayas and Voices for Seniors remain a crucial voice in the ongoing fight for accountability. This isn’t about politics — it’s about healing a still-raw wound and honoring those we lost.

“We need the truth and that’s how we can basically honor our parents and that’s how we get closure.”

Zayas’ lived experience, tireless advocacy, and emotional testimony give a human face to a political tragedy too often buried behind press conferences and spin.

Support the Fight for Accountability

The COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone differently. But few can imagine the helplessness families like Vivian’s felt, watching from afar as their loved ones perished — isolated and alone.

Even in the face of such profound grief, Vivian Zayas is not backing down — and neither should we.

Follow Voices for Seniors on X.  Share their content. Tell your friends.

Visit their website.

And, if you can, donate to support their efforts.

Whether Cuomo ever faces real justice is uncertain. But thanks to advocates like Vivian Zayas, the victims — and the truth — won’t be forgotten.