The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic is moving forward with a referral to the Department of Justice, urging a potential prosecution of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The referral, signed by Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), alleges Cuomo misled Congress regarding his role in shaping a New York state report that downplayed his administration’s responsibility for COVID-19 nursing home deaths.
The referral centers on Cuomo’s closed-door testimony to Congress, where he reportedly denied involvement in drafting the report. However, newly surfaced evidence from emails and congressional records indicates that Cuomo reviewed and influenced early drafts of the document. The referral letter did not receive endorsement from Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), the panel’s ranking Democrat, who declined to co-sign.
🚨The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic is referring Former New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for criminal prosecution.
Evidence suggests Andrew Cuomo knowingly and willfully made materially false statements about New York’s COVID-19 nursing home disaster and the… pic.twitter.com/kJrOQpXHLn
— Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic (@COVIDSelect) October 31, 2024
Cuomo’s legal team responded swiftly, with his attorney, Sarah A. Sulkowski, sending a letter to the DOJ claiming the subcommittee’s actions were politically motivated. Sulkowski argued that the investigation was a misuse of government resources and alleged that it was coordinated with Janice Dean, a Fox News personality and vocal critic of Cuomo’s policies.
The former governor’s handling of the pandemic, particularly his March 2020 order requiring nursing homes to admit COVID-19-positive patients, has drawn widespread criticism. New York Attorney General Letitia James’ 2021 report confirmed that over 4,000 nursing home residents died following Cuomo’s directive, with some facilities experiencing outbreaks despite previously having no COVID-19 cases.
Cuomo’s June 2020 congressional testimony further raised questions when he denied that his administration underreported nursing home deaths. The Daily Caller News Foundation first reported allegations of altered classifications in 2020, which has remained a point of investigation.
As speculation grows about Cuomo’s possible political comeback, including a potential run for New York City mayor, this new referral may complicate his prospects. Current New York City Mayor Eric Adams is also facing legal challenges amid a federal bribery investigation, adding further intrigue to Cuomo’s potential return to the political landscape.
