The release of a final set of videos and transcripts out of the NYS Attorney General’s office sheds more light on Larry Schwartz’s role as Vaccine Czar during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NYS AG has been conducting an investigation into sexual harassment allegations made against former governor Andrew Cuomo.
Schwartz, a longtime Cuomo ally and fixer, was appointed by Cuomo during the height of the pandemic to handle the state’s vaccine rollout, according to 13 Wham. Some have alleged Schwartz made calls to county executives across the state to gauge their loyalty to Cuomo as the harassment scandal was unfolding, somehow planning to have their responses play a factor in vaccine distribution.
In documents from the Attorney General’s office, Schwartz said the calls were not about vaccines. He confirmed they were about seeing where seven county executives stood on the Cuomo scandal as well as their planned public response. Schwartz said then-Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa directed him to make those calls.
Schwartz stepped down from his position as Vaccine Czar in April 2021. He also resigned from New York City’s MTA Board in October of the same year.
To read the full Schwartz transcripts, click here.
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