The House subcommittee investigating the government’s response to the pandemic is set to accuse former Governor Andrew Cuomo of making false statements to Congress and will refer criminal charges to the U.S. Department of Justice. The focus of the referral is on Cuomo’s statements to the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic regarding his involvement in the editing or reviewing of a controversial July 2020 report on Covid deaths in nursing homes.
Rep. Brad Wenstrup, the Ohio Republican chairing the panel, stated in the 107-page referral to Attorney General Merrick Garland that Cuomo provided false statements in an attempt to avoid accountability. The Department of Justice is urged to consider Cuomo’s past alleged misconduct when deciding whether to charge him for the false statements made to Congress.
Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, dismissed the panel’s actions as a “taxpayer-funded farce” and accused them of misusing their investigative powers. Azzopardi claimed that the committee’s referral was a politically motivated attack aimed at tarnishing Cuomo’s reputation.
In response, Cuomo’s attorney filed a criminal referral to the Department of Justice, accusing the House panel of misusing government resources and encroaching on state prerogatives. The back-and-forth between Cuomo’s camp and the House subcommittee comes at a critical time as Cuomo considers a return to politics, possibly as a candidate for New York City mayor.
Cuomo’s political future has been uncertain since his resignation as governor in August 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment. Despite the controversy, polls indicate that Cuomo remains a recognizable figure and could be a competitive candidate in a Democratic mayoral primary.
However, Cuomo’s handling of the Covid pandemic, particularly his administration’s policies on nursing homes, has drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. While Cuomo initially gained national acclaim for his pandemic response, questions arose about the accuracy of data on nursing home deaths during the crisis.
The New York State Department of Health’s decision not to turn away Covid-positive patients from nursing homes sparked concerns about the spread of the virus among vulnerable residents. Subsequent investigations revealed discrepancies in the reporting of nursing home fatalities, prompting further scrutiny of Cuomo’s actions.
During his testimony to House investigators, Cuomo claimed he did not review the July 2020 report on nursing home deaths. However, former advisers contradicted his statement, indicating that Cuomo was involved in editing the report before its release to the public.
As the controversy surrounding Cuomo’s pandemic response deepens, the House subcommittee’s referral to the Department of Justice marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation. It remains to be seen how Cuomo will navigate these latest challenges to his political aspirations and reputation.
