Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
The Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, centered on accusations that he misled Congress regarding how his administration handled nursing home fatalities during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Cuomo has been at the center of serious allegations stemming from his administration’s handling of nursing home deaths during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, his administration issued a directive requiring nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients discharged from hospitals, a policy that critics claim contributed to widespread outbreaks among vulnerable populations. Cuomo defended the move as being based on guidance from the CDC at the time. However, a report by the New York State Comptroller in March 2022 concluded that the true number of nursing home deaths may have been undercounted by up to 50%. Additionally, reports surfaced that top Cuomo aides withheld key data from lawmakers and the public due to concerns it could damage him politically. During a congressional investigation, Cuomo testified that he had not been involved in editing or reviewing the Health Department’s report on the matter, a claim that has since been disputed by emails and staff testimony.
What’s going on now: First reported by The New York Times, federal prosecutors have launched a probe focused on whether Cuomo misrepresented his involvement in shaping a 2020 New York State Health Department report about nursing home deaths. The probe is being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, DC, and was initiated about a month ago after House Republicans renewed a referral originally made during the Biden administration.
Investigators are scrutinizing Cuomo’s testimony to the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, during which he claimed he had no involvement in reviewing the 2020 report on the state’s COVID-19 response in nursing homes. Supporting evidence from GOP lawmakers includes internal emails referencing edits attributed to the governor and staff accounts suggesting Cuomo’s handwriting appeared on early drafts.
The Justice Department has not commented publicly on the investigation, which is standard protocol. However, Cuomo’s camp has forcefully pushed back against the allegations and the timing of the probe. Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, has characterized the probe as politically driven and intentionally leaked to damage Cuomo’s New York City mayoral campaign. He said, “This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple—something President Trump and his top Department of Justice officials say they are against.”
