Rep. Elise Stefanik and former Gov. Cuomo exchange back and forth on his book deal during hearing

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., had a back and forth with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo about his book deal and COVID-19 nursing deaths.

"My question to you is when were you negotiating for your multimillion dollar advanced deal for your book as seniors were dying in nursing homes?" Stefanik asked Cuomo during a hearing. "That is the question in front of you."

"You can't make up facts, Congresswoman," Cuomo responded. 

"You're the one making them facts," she responded. "You're the one who is undercutting nursing home deaths."

Cuomo wrote a book titled "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic" that came out in October of 2020.

The two proceeded to have a back and forth and talked over each other.

Stefanik later said, "There is a reason why you were the former governor of New York state, and you will never hold elected office again."

This resulted in applause from people in the room watching the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic's hearing. 

Cuomo slammed GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, arguing the American people on the threat of COVID-19 in 2020.

Cuomo testified before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic about his 2020 policies.

"I often vehemently disagreed with President Trump because from day one, he willfully deceived the American people [and] denied COVID was a very real threat....telling us that it was like the flu and it would go away by Easter," he said.

Wenstrup, R-Ohio, slammed Cuomo over COVID-19 nursing home deaths.

"Governor, you own this," Wenstrup said during opening remarks. "It's your name on the letterhead. This is your directive. Whether you knew about it or not, you're the leader. The buck stops with you, or at least it should."

Wenstrup said that Cuomo's former commissioner of the Department of Health told the committee that Cuomo received a phone call from the Greater New York Hospital Association asking him to do something about nursing home residents that the hospitals wanted to be able to discharge. 

The commissioner testified that Cuomo said the patients had to go home, according to Wenstrup.

The former governor faces questions about his administration’s issuance of "unscientific guidance" that forced New York nursing homes and long-term care facilities to admit such patients.

Cuomo has previously testified to different panels.