The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo over alleged false statements to Congress regarding the deaths of nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic.The Washington, D.C., U.S. Lawyers' Office began its investigation about a month ago, according to a New York Times report on Tuesday. Ed Martin was the first to lead the office before the appointment of Janine Piro earlier this month.Under Republican leadership, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has called on Attorney General Pam Bondy to pursue criminal charges against Cuomo, who allegedly made false statements in an interview with the House Covid subcommittee on June 11, 2024.Committee Chairman James Kommer (R-KY.) presented evidence suggesting that 67-year-old Cuomo oversaw July 6, 2020, and 46% of audits reporting significant deaths in New York care facilities during the pandemic.During his testimony, Cuomo firmly denied any involvement in drafting, reviewing, discussing, or consulting a nursing home report issued by the New York State Department of Health.Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi denied his knowledge of the investigation and characterized it as “interference between law and elections.”“Voices for Senpai” welcomed X's investigation, saying, “The wheels of justice are finally beginning to change. For over five years, our movement has been driven by heartbreak and single-minded demands for truth.”The survey focuses on Cuomo's report on March 25, 2020, which minimized the impact of March 25. The directive requires that patients who are dependent on nursing homes be accepted without mandatory testing. By May 10, when the order was revoked, many sick New Yorkers had been hospitalized in senior care facilities.Piro, who is currently leading the investigation, previously competed with Cuomo in the 2006 New York State Attorney General's race, and has openly criticised his pandemic policies.The news of the investigation came as Cuomo launched a campaign ad highlighting his pandemic leadership. In a recent interview with the “Honest Bali Weiss” podcast, Cuomo defended his actions and maintained them in line with federal guidelines.Democratic politicians, including Queens Rep. Zoran Mamdani, city director Brad Lander and Brooklyn Sen. Zellner Miley, have expressed concern about both Cuomo and the investigation under the current administration.
