Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) did not hold back on Tuesday when she confronted former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo during a House Oversight Committee hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic. Greene harshly criticized Cuomo for his handling of nursing home deaths and accused him of allowing a Chinese spy to infiltrate his administration during the pandemic.
Cuomo’s administration has been criticized for a March 2020 policy that forced nursing homes to admit COVID-positive patients, which many believe led to thousands of unnecessary deaths among elderly residents. Greene highlighted not only this decision but also the recent arrest of Linda Sun, a former aide to Cuomo who has been accused of working as a spy for the Chinese government.
“So, Mr. Cuomo, you were thanking China while you had a woman named Linda Sun working for you who has now been identified as a Chinese spy,” Greene said. “Now, I’ll ask you this—are you the dumbest tool of the Chinese government or did you know she was a spy?”
Sun and her husband were arrested earlier this month on charges related to espionage, including visa fraud and money laundering. Greene’s questioning drew attention to the growing concern over Chinese influence in U.S. politics and raised questions about Cuomo’s leadership and ability to vet his staff.
Cuomo responded by downplaying Sun’s role, describing her as a “junior member” of his staff and claiming he wouldn’t recognize her today. However, he acknowledged that foreign operatives are a serious issue and called for greater cooperation between state and federal authorities to combat this threat.
Greene also pointed to the sexual misconduct allegations against Cuomo, who has been accused by 13 women of inappropriate behavior during his time in office. She suggested that the Democratic Department of Justice helped Cuomo escape significant legal consequences, accusing him of benefiting from political protection.
Greene’s fiery exchange with Cuomo added fuel to the ongoing debate about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the presence of foreign spies in U.S. government institutions.
