The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a criminal investigation into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, stemming from allegations that he misled Congress regarding his decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a source familiar with the matter. This investigation reportedly began about a month ago, as noted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington. A senior official from the DOJ had previously urged New York City Mayor Eric Adams to dismiss corruption claims.
The DOJ has not provided any comments on the issue. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has positioned itself in a notable role regarding a potential criminal case against Adams, as Cuomo, who is running in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, and Adams, now an independent candidate, both seek to solidify their political futures amidst these developments.
House Republicans have been vocal in pushing for Cuomo’s indictment, citing concerns about the former governor’s handling of the pandemic, particularly in connection with nursing home fatalities. They allege that Cuomo made false statements to Congress while addressing these issues. It was the House Oversight Committee that initially prompted the Justice Department to consider pursuing charges against him.
Cuomo had defended his actions as governor, asserting that he had complied with the guidance from health authorities. Nonetheless, he faced severe scrutiny last year due to the high number of nursing home deaths. He issued a directive in March 2020 that mandated the acceptance of Covid-positive patients into nursing homes, a move later deemed controversial when it was suggested it may have contributed to the virus’s spread.
In a recent statement, Republican Representative James Comer emphasized that Cuomo’s actions appeared to be a deliberate cover-up rather than unfortunate mistakes. “Lying to Congress is a serious offense,” he noted, asserting that Cuomo ought to face stringent legal consequences.
