Justice Dept. investigating former New York Gov. Cuomo over pandemic testimony, AP source says

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo after congressional Republicans recommended that he be charged with lying over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Washington launched the investigation shortly after Rep. James Comer, Republican chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, asked the Justice Department to prosecute Cuomo over statements he made to the committee investigating his management of the pandemic when the virus was spreading through nursing homes, the person said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation.

A spokesperson for Cuomo said Tuesday that the former governor was never informed of any such investigation. Cuomo is currently running for mayor of New York City.