Department of Justice Probes Andrew Cuomo Over Alleged Falsehoods Regarding COVID Actions

Department of Justice Probes Andrew Cuomo Over Alleged Falsehoods Regarding COVID Actions

The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a criminal inquiry involving former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. This investigation centers on claims that he provided false information to Congress about his decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic while he was in office. A source familiar with the investigation confirmed this development to Fox News.

According to reports from reliable sources, including The New York Times, the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington began this investigation approximately a month ago. This followed heightened tensions within the DOJ after senior officials demanded the dismissal of corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The timing of the inquiries raises questions about political maneuvering.

The Justice Department has refrained from commenting specifically regarding the ongoing probe into Cuomo’s actions.

The Trump administration now finds itself in a peculiar situation, managing the dismissal of a criminal case against Adams while simultaneously opening a new case against his political rival, Cuomo. This may complicate the political landscape as Cuomo campaigns for the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, while Adams seeks reelection as an independent candidate.

Cuomo remains a significant figure in the upcoming election, and the scrutiny over his past decisions brings additional challenges to his campaign.

Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, responded to the allegations, stating, “We have never been informed of any such matter, so why would someone leak it now? The answer is obvious: This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple—something President Trump and his top Department of Justice officials say they are against.” Azzopardi asserted that Cuomo testified truthfully, highlighting that the investigations are politically motivated.

Last year, Cuomo faced rigorous questioning from Republican lawmakers regarding his management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, House Republicans urged the Justice Department to pursue criminal charges against him. They accused Cuomo of intentionally misleading Congress during the House Oversight Committee’s probe into the alarming number of nursing home fatalities.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, formally referred Cuomo to the Trump administration’s Justice Department for potential criminal prosecution.

Cuomo has been discussed widely in the media, with some commentators suggesting that the ongoing investigations could hinder his current campaign efforts. Recently, Bill Maher pointed out that the nursing home scandal might negatively impact Cuomo in his bid for the New York City mayoral seat.

Cuomo, who currently appears to lead in the Democratic primary race slated for June, was originally referred to the Biden Justice Department for prosecution back in October 2024. This earlier referral has now resurfaced in light of the latest developments.

Former Congressman Brad Wenstrup, who chaired the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, accused Cuomo of making multiple false statements to Congress concerning his handling of the nursing home situation during the pandemic. These allegations stem from Cuomo’s directive issued in March 2020, which permitted nursing homes to accept patients who had tested positive for COVID-19.

This directive aimed to alleviate hospital overcrowding but led to the transfer of over 9,000 recovering COVID-19 patients to nursing homes. This decision faced backlash after it was rescinded amid concerns that it exacerbated outbreaks in those facilities.

The plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit argue that their loved ones contracted COVID-19 in nursing homes and ultimately succumbed to the virus due to Cuomo’s directive. They claim that Cuomo and his administration are civilly liable for these deaths, citing failures in accurately reporting the COVID-19 death toll within New York’s nursing homes.

In defense of his actions, Cuomo has previously stated that the directive was in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

A report released in March 2022 by the New York state comptroller criticized Cuomo’s Health Department for a lack of transparency in reporting nursing home COVID-19 deaths, alleging that the numbers had been understated by as much as 50% during critical phases of the pandemic.

In a recent letter sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Congressman Comer expressed concerns that the Biden Administration ignored the referral for prosecution despite substantial evidence. He urged Bondi to carefully review the case and take appropriate action.

Comer declared, “Andrew Cuomo is a man with a history of corruption and deceit, now caught red-handed lying to Congress during the Select Subcommittee’s investigation into the COVID-19 nursing home tragedy in New York.” He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that lying to Congress constitutes a federal crime and urged for Cuomo to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The House Oversight Committee has indicated its willingness to fully cooperate with the Justice Department as it investigates Cuomo’s actions, ensuring accountability.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.