The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic is set to refer former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to the Department of Justice, alleging that he misled Congress about his involvement in the New York state COVID-19 report on nursing home deaths. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), who chairs the subcommittee, signed the referral letter, accusing Cuomo of deliberately obscuring his role in shaping the report, which deflected blame from his administration.
The subcommittee’s referral, expected to be finalized on Thursday, alleges that Cuomo engaged in a “conscious, calculated effort” to avoid accountability. According to emails and congressional records obtained by The New York Times, Cuomo reviewed and contributed to early drafts of the report despite his testimony to Congress suggesting otherwise. The referral was not supported by Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), the ranking Democrat on the panel.
🚨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 attorney, Sarah A. Sulkowski, sent a letter to the DOJ refuting the subcommittee’s claims and accusing it of conducting a partisan investigation. Sulkowski alleged that the inquiry was coordinated with Fox News personality Janice Dean, who has publicly criticized Cuomo’s policies regarding nursing homes during the pandemic.
Cuomo’s March 2020 directive requiring nursing homes to readmit COVID-19-positive patients has been at the center of the controversy. Critics argue this policy led to the deaths of over 4,000 nursing home residents, as confirmed by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ report in 2021. The report revealed that some facilities faced outbreaks where no previous COVID-19 cases had been reported before the directive.
The subcommittee’s investigation also examined Cuomo’s June 2020 testimony before Congress, where he denied underreporting nursing home deaths. Allegations that his administration altered death classifications surfaced through a 2020 Daily Caller News Foundation investigation, which intensified scrutiny on his handling of the pandemic.
As Cuomo reportedly considers a political comeback, including a possible bid for New York City mayor, these recent developments may add obstacles. Current Mayor Eric Adams is embroiled in a federal bribery scandal, potentially opening the door for Cuomo’s return despite ongoing controversy surrounding his leadership during the pandemic.
