Cuomo Faces New Criminal Investigation Over COVID-19 Data

Clear Facts

• The Department of Justice has initiated a criminal investigation into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo over allegations of lying to Congress.
• The investigation, led by the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, began approximately a month ago following a referral by Congressional Republicans.
• Cuomo is accused of making false statements regarding his administration’s handling of COVID-19 deaths in New York nursing homes.

The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. This inquiry focuses on accusations that Cuomo provided false testimony to Congress concerning his administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This investigation, spearheaded by the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, reportedly commenced about a month ago. Congressional Republicans initiated the referral, alleging that Cuomo misled Congress during an investigation into his administration’s handling of pandemic-related data.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has been vocal about the accusations. He stated that Cuomo “knowingly and willfully made false statements to Congress” concerning his involvement in a state report that allegedly underreported COVID-19 deaths in New York nursing homes.

Cuomo’s spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, criticized the investigation as being politically motivated.

“We have never been informed of any such matter, so why would someone leak it now?” he questioned in a statement.

Azzopardi further defended Cuomo, asserting that the former governor “testified truthfully to the best of his recollection about events from four years earlier, and he offered to address any follow-up questions from the subcommittee — but from the beginning this was all transparently political.”

The controversy traces back to a directive issued by Cuomo during the pandemic, which required nursing homes to admit COVID-19 positive patients. This decision was linked to the deaths of at least 4,000 residents, as reported by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The report by James also highlighted that Cuomo’s administration deliberately stopped counting the deaths of nursing home residents if they died in hospitals, leading to an underreporting of nursing home fatalities.

While the FBI and DOJ have not commented on the investigation, citing their policy against discussing active or potential investigations, the implications of this inquiry could be significant for Cuomo. As he continues to promote his political career, the scrutiny over his past actions remains a contentious issue.

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