House Republicans push for criminal charges against Andrew Cuomo for lying to Congress

In the United States, the House Oversight Committee has intensified its efforts to hold former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo accountable for alleged misconduct during the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee referred Cuomo to the Trump administration's Justice Department, claiming he made false statements to Congress regarding the handling of nursing home deaths during the health crisis. The investigation, initiated in May 2023, scrutinized Cuomo’s administration, especially a controversial directive that required nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients, which has been linked to the death of over 17,000 individuals in those facilities. The committee believes that Cuomo’s statements during their investigation are not mere mistakes but deliberate attempts to cover up his involvement in decisions that led to significant fatalities. Specifically, they argue that his administration underreported nursing home deaths and shifted blame to staff rather than accepting responsibility for the nursing home policy that contributed to the crisis. The claims raised by the committee echo findings from the New York State Attorney General’s investigation, which suggested that Cuomo's team may have undercounted total nursing home deaths by approximately 50%. Cuomo, who is running as a frontrunner in the upcoming New York City Democratic mayoral primary set for June 2025, faced criticism not just from Republicans but also from various advocacy groups who claim his policies during the pandemic hurt vulnerable populations. His response to the allegations has consistently been to dismiss them as politically motivated attacks. Cuomo's spokesman characterized the referral as a 'meritless press release' that serves no purpose other than to further political agendas. The criminal referral represents a significant political challenge for Cuomo, as it adds to the scrutiny surrounding his tenure as governor and raises questions about the ethics of his leadership during a public health crisis. With the upcoming primary, the implications of these allegations could profoundly affect his political future and the responses from his supporters and opponents alike.