New York‘s “vaccine czar” phoned county officials to gauge support for Andrew Cuomo, as the governor faces growing calls to resign amid several sexual harassment allegations.
Larry Schwartz, leader of the state’s vaccine rollout and longtime adviser and friend to Cuomo, acknowledged making the calls but said there was nothing unethical about doing so, according to a report by the Washington Post.
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“I did nothing wrong,” Schwartz said. “I have always conducted myself in a manner commensurate to a high ethical standard.”
At least one county executive was said to be taken aback by the call when Schwartz made the initial contact.
“At best, it was inappropriate,” the Democratic county executive, who wanted to remain anonymous, said. “At worst, it was clearly over the ethical line.”
The executive expressed concerns that the county’s vaccine supply could be infringed in the absence of a positive response to Schwartz’s inquiry. The executive also filed notice of an impending ethics complaint with the public integrity unit of the state attorney general’s office.
Schwartz contended that the conversations were completely separate from discussions about public health, describing them as “cordial, respectful, and friendly.”
An ally of Cuomo for decades, Schwartz has been recognized as one of the most influential advisers to the governor, earning the reputation of being “Cuomo’s enforcer.” Though Schwartz has advised Cuomo on and off since 2015, he returned to the administration last spring to help mitigate the coronavirus pandemic.
Schwartz said he called the officials as someone who has known the governor for 30 years, as well as someone who has experience in Albany and the political world. He denied claims that Cuomo directed him to make the calls, saying he did so on his own volition.
According to the report, the “vaccine czar” said he holds weekly calls with county officials and asserted that he can multitask in talking about public health and also making political inquiries.
“Everyone took my call or called me back,” Schwartz wrote in an email. “NOBODY indicated they were uncomfortable discussing with me or thought it was inappropriate.”
Schwartz emphasized that vaccine distribution has nothing to do with political favor and said he never requested that anyone support Cuomo when talking to local officials.
“There was no pressure and I never asked anyone to support the Governor,” Schwartz said. “All I asked them was if their public position of calling for an independent investigation by the Attorney General and waiting for the outcome of her report had changed.”
Cuomo’s office defended against accusations that Schwartz acted inappropriately in his inquiries.
“Larry answered our call to volunteer in March and has since then worked night and day to help New York through this pandemic, first managing surge capacity, and procuring necessary supplies for the state, setting up the contact tracing efforts, and now assisting with vaccine distribution,” Beth Garvey, acting counsel to the governor said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Any suggestion that he acted in any way unethically or in any way other than in the best interest of the New Yorkers that he selflessly served is patently false.”
Cuomo is currently facing an impending impeachment inquiry, as well as a state-led investigation regarding seven allegations of sexual harassment that have been brought forth against him. More than 60 Democrats have signaled support for Cuomo’s resignation, including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and both U.S. senators representing the state.
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The governor has asserted that he never touched anybody inappropriately and apologized if he ever made comments that made anyone feel uncomfortable. Last week, he said he has no plans to resign.
The Washington Examiner contacted the New York state Department of Health for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
