(VitalNews.org) – As part of his dramatic fall from grace, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faces potential criminal charges for his mishandling of COVID-19 nursing home deaths.
The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic has referred Cuomo to the Department of Justice (DOJ), accusing him of lying to Congress and deliberately underreporting fatalities to protect his political image.
Led by Chairman Brad Wenstrup, the Select Subcommittee asserted that Cuomo lied during a June 2024 interview about his involvement in drafting a New York State Department of Health report.
“Andrew Cuomo repeatedly lied to Congress, and he must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Wenstrup wrote. “This deliberate and self-serving attempt to avoid accountability for the thousands of lives lost in New York nursing homes during the pandemic will not stand.”
“If his prior criminal activity is any reflection, Andrew Cuomo is not a man of principle, and his willingness to lie to the Select Subcommittee is unfortunately a continuance of this behavior,” Wenstrup continued.
“Plain and simple, making false statements to Congress is a federal crime. We look forward to cooperating fully with the Justice Department’s investigation into Andrew Cuomo’s wrongdoings,” he concluded.
Cuomo’s controversial March 25, 2020 directive required nursing homes to admit COVID-positive patients, exposing vulnerable populations to the virus.
The July 6, 2020, report in question falsely blamed excess deaths on nursing home staff rather than Cuomo’s directive.
The New York State Attorney General’s report in January 2021 revealed that Cuomo’s administration had undercounted nursing home deaths by up to 50%.
This shocking revelation sparked mounting scrutiny of Cuomo’s pandemic management and ultimately led to his resignation.
The subcommittee began the investigation in May 2023 and interviewed former New York State officials.
Evidence released in September 2024 suggested that Cuomo even attempted to influence a witness, further damaging his credibility.
In turn, Cuomo’s legal team has accused the subcommittee of political bias and misuse of government resources.
The subcommittee’s criminal referral concludes that Cuomo has no valid legal defense and suggests the DOJ should charge him under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 for false statements.
This development could derail any plans Cuomo might have had for a political comeback, including rumors of a potential run for New York City mayor.
Copyright 2024, VitalNews.org
