DOJ Investigating Andrew Cuomo Over COVID Nursing Home Decision

NEW YORK CITY — The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo over his testimony he made to Congress about the decisions he made during the coronavirus pandemic.

The inquiry is being handled by the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, according to the New York Times.

The new investigation revisits Cuomo's decision to issue a directive that required nursing homes to accept coronavirus patients from hospitals, according to the report.

While that decision has since been criticized, Cuomo has maintained he followed federal guidance at the time, as did many other states.

Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host and prosecutor, runs the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, and previously accused Cuomo of criminal conduct surrounding the nursing homes decision.

In a 2021, Pirro said state prosecutors should investigate him for manslaughter and negligent homicide.

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, told the Times that inquiry is " lawfare and election interference plain and simple."

"Something President Trump and his top Department of Justice officials say they are against," he added.

The inquiry comes about a month after Justice Department officials called the dismissal of New York City Mayor Eric Adams' corruption case.

Cuomo is currently the frontrunner in Democratic primary polls for mayor. The primary election is scheduled for June 24.