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New from me and @MarkMorales51: Cuomo said 'he can destroy me': NY assemblyman alleges governor threatened him over nursing homes scandal http://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html
Democratic NY Assemblyman Ron Kim told CNN that Gov. Cuomo called last Thursday to “threaten my career if I did not cover up for Melissa [DeRosa] and what she said.” Cuomo also said “I hadn't seen his wrath and that he can destroy me,” according to Kim. http://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html
Kim's wife told CNN she overheard parts of the phone call and heard Cuomo say, "Who do you think you are?" as well as the words, "my wrath," and that immediately after the phone call, her husband told her: "The governor threatened to destroy my life." http://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html
CNN first reached out to Cuomo's office for comment on TUESDAY. In a written statement, his communications director did not directly respond to or deny Kim's allegation of threats from the governor in a written statement. http://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html
Ultimately, Cuomo's office sent another statement from senior adviser Rich Azzopardi late Wednesday morning that said: "Kim's assertion that the governor said he would 'destroy him' is false." http://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html
Around the same time that Azzopardi's statement was sent to CNN today, Cuomo began a previously scheduled press conference call on the coronavirus, and discussed his office's "long and hostile relationship" with Kim. http://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html
Importantly from our story: CNN also spoke with three other New York legislators who said they were aware of outreach from Cuomo in which he clearly suggested or explicitly threatened political retaliation if they did not stand by him. http://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html
One NY state senator said they heard directly from multiple colleagues whom Cuomo had reached out to, and that the governor threatened some by warning he could ruin their political careers if they supported weakening his executive powers. http://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html
More on the Kim/Cuomo phone call: Azzopardi also said in a statement to CNN: "The Governor has three witnesses to the conversation. The operable words were to the effect of, 'I am from Queens, too, and people still expect honor and integrity in politics." http://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html
Kim says he didn't recall Cuomo making specific reference to Queens, but that Cuomo had asked him: "Mr. Kim, are you an honorable man?" before proceeding to suggest that the honorable thing for Kim to do would be to put out a statement of support. http://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html
