The US department of justice has initiated a criminal investigation into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding alleged false statements to Congress about nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic.According to the New York Times report on Tuesday, the Washington, DC, US Attorney’s Office began the investigation approximately a month ago. Ed Martin initially led the office before Jeanine Pirro’s appointment earlier this month.The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, under Republican leadership, requested Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue criminal charges against Cuomo for allegedly making false statements during his June 11, 2024, interview with the House COVID subcommittee.Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) presented evidence suggesting Cuomo, 67, oversaw a July 6, 2020, audit that significantly underreported deaths in New York care facilities during the pandemic by 46%.During his testimony, Cuomo firmly denied involvement in drafting, reviewing, discussing or consulting on the nursing home report published by the New York State Department of Health.Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo’s spokesperson, denied knowledge of any investigation, characterising it as “lawfare and election interference.”“Voices for Seniors” welcomed the investigation on X, stating: “The wheels of justice are finally beginning to turn. For over five years, our movement has been fuelled by heartbreak and a single-minded demand for the truth.”The investigation centres on a report that minimised the impact of Cuomo’s March 25, 2020, directive requiring nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients without mandatory testing. By May 10, when the order was revoked, numerous ill New Yorkers had been admitted to senior care facilities.Pirro, who now leads the investigation, previously competed against Cuomo in the 2006 New York attorney general race and has openly criticised his pandemic policies.The investigation news emerged just as Cuomo launched a campaign advertisement highlighting his pandemic leadership. In a recent “Honestly with Bari Weiss” podcast interview, Cuomo defended his actions, maintaining they aligned with federal guidelines.Democratic politicians, including Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and Brooklyn Sen. Zellnor Myrie, have expressed concerns about both Cuomo and the investigation’s timing under the current administration.