Federal investigators have started to look into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.  This is not a surprise. It has been in the works for a while.  The investigation is based on claims that Cuomo was not truthful during a probe into his administration's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Republicans in Congress made this referral.  The Justice Department is now taking a closer look.

This is not the first time Cuomo has been under scrutiny.  There was an earlier request to the Biden administration that did not lead to an investigation.  Additionally, Justice officials recently ended a corruption case against Eric Adams, the current New York mayor.  This decision caused a stir in the Manhattan U. S. Attorney's Office.  Adams has made it clear that he will support the Trump administration's immigration policies.

The Justice Department has not commented on the Cuomo investigation.  A spokesperson for Cuomo, Rich Azzopardi, stated that they were not aware of any investigation and defended Cuomo's testimony to Congress.  Azzopardi accused the leak of being a political move.  He claimed that Cuomo testified honestly and offered to answer any follow-up questions.

A Justice official stated that the department is committed to following the facts in every case.  This investigation comes as Cuomo tries to make a political comeback after resigning amid a sexual misconduct scandal.  Cuomo has denied the allegations, which were outlined in a report by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The investigation focuses on Cuomo's role in a state health department report from June 2020.  The report underestimated the number of nursing home deaths by nearly half.  A 2021 investigation by James found that the New York State Department of Health undercounted Covid-19 deaths among nursing home residents.  A 2022 audit by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli concluded that Cuomo's health department failed to report roughly 4, 100 deaths.

Cuomo has consistently denied any wrongdoing.  His legal team even requested an investigation into an alleged abuse of power by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.  Azzopardi accused the GOP-led committee of acting unethically to score political points.

The investigation into Cuomo is part of a larger pattern of political maneuvering.  It raises questions about the role of politics in investigations and the use of legal proceedings for political gain.  As Cuomo attempts to rebuild his political career, this investigation could have significant implications for his future.

GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO

The Unraveling of Cuomo's Political Reputation

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