DOJ Reportedly Investigating Former NY Gov. Cuomo Over COVID Response

The Justice Department is reportedly investigating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) over his testimony to Congress about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Details: The U.S. attorney’s office in Washington launched the investigation at the request of Rep. James Comer (R-KY), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Comer asked the Justice Department to prosecute Cuomo over statements he made during the committee's COVID-19 pandemic investigation. Meanwhile, Cuomo is running for mayor of New York City and has denied any wrongdoing.

Key Quotes: Comer said, "Andrew Cuomo is a man with a history of corruption and deceit, now caught red-handed lying to Congress...this wasn’t a slip-up – it was a calculated cover-up by a man seeking to shield himself from responsibility for the devastating loss of life in New York’s nursing homes." Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi called leak of the investigation "lawfare and election interference plain and simple."

For Context: Cuomo was criticized for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with respect to his initially barring nursing homes from refusing to accept patients who had tested positive for COVID-19. House Republicans asked the Justice Department to pursue criminal charges against Cuomo after accusing him of lying to Congress during the COVID-19 investigation.

How the Media Covered It: Sources across the political spectrum noted the timing of the leak and quoted Cuomo's spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, who views the investigation as "something President Trump and his top Department of Justice officials say they are against." Fox News (Right bias) also focused on the alleged wrongdoing by Cuomo, highlighting the Republican-led calls for his prosecution.

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