House Oversight Chair James Comer has referred former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to the Trump Justice Department for prosecution, accusing him of lying to Congress about COVID-19 nursing home deaths.
The referral follows an earlier one to the Biden DOJ, which Comer claims was ignored.
Cuomo is accused of making false statements about his involvement in a 2020 state report that downplayed the impact of a directive requiring nursing homes to admit COVID-positive patients. Evidence suggests Cuomo helped draft and edit the report, despite denying involvement under oath.
A 2021 report by New York’s attorney general found the state may have underreported nursing home deaths by up to 50%. Cuomo’s spokesman dismissed the referral as politically motivated. The Justice Department’s response under Trump remains uncertain.
