The political class lying is nothing new. But the Trump admin isn’t putting up with it.
And now Congress has sent a top Democrat to the DOJ for criminal prosecution.
Cuomo’s Cover-Up? Comer’s DOJ Referral Shakes Up NYC Mayoral Race
The political landscape in New York City took a dramatic turn this week as House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer referred Andrew Cuomo, the former governor and current mayoral candidate, to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution. The move, announced Monday, stems from allegations that Cuomo deliberately misled Congress about his role in a state report that significantly underreported nursing home deaths during the 2020 pandemic. For a Trump administration keen on accountability, Comer’s referral signals a renewed push to address past governance failures with a firm hand, though the outcome remains uncertain.
Comer, a Kentucky Republican, accused Cuomo of “knowingly and willfully” providing false testimony to Congress regarding his administration’s handling of nursing home data. The controversy centers on a New York state report that allegedly obscured the true scale of fatalities in nursing homes during the height of the pandemic. Comer’s call for Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute Cuomo for “lying to Congress” follows the Biden administration’s decision to sidestep a similar Republican referral in October 2024. This time, with a new administration in place, the referral carries fresh weight.
Cuomo’s testimony before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in June and September 2024 lies at the heart of the issue. House Republicans argue that the former governor sought to dodge accountability by misrepresenting his involvement in the state’s reporting process. Comer, in a press release, described Cuomo’s statements as “demonstrably false,” pointing to discrepancies between his testimony and evidence uncovered during the subcommittee’s investigation into New York’s nursing home crisis.
“Andrew Cuomo is a man with a history of corruption and deceit, now caught red-handed lying to Congress during the Select Subcommittee’s investigation into the COVID-19 nursing home tragedy in New York,” Comer stated. “This wasn’t a slip-up — it was a calculated cover-up by a man seeking to shield himself from responsibility for the devastating loss of life in New York’s nursing homes.” His words resonate with a Trump administration ethos that prioritizes confronting perceived abuses of power, particularly from Democratic figures.
The nursing home controversy traces back to Cuomo’s March 2020 directive, which barred facilities from denying admission to patients solely based on a COVID-19 diagnosis. According to a 2021 report by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, this policy contributed to thousands of senior citizen deaths. The report further revealed that the New York State Department of Health, under Cuomo’s watch, undercounted nursing home deaths by nearly 50% through manipulated classification methods, a revelation first reported in May 2020.
BREAKING: Andrew Cuomo criminally referred to the DOJ over "New York’s COVID-19 nursing home disaster and the ensuing cover-up."
A House Oversight Committee press release says Cuomo "knowingly and willfully made false statements to the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus… pic.twitter.com/n7KIqGx3vP
— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) April 21, 2025
Comer’s referral isn’t just political theater either. “Let’s be clear: lying to Congress is a federal crime,” he declared. “Mr. Cuomo must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The House Oversight Committee is prepared to fully cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigation into Andrew Cuomo’s actions and ensure he’s held to account.” This stance aligns with a broader Republican effort to revisit pandemic-era decisions, particularly those seen as exacerbating public harm.
Cuomo’s current bid for New York City mayor adds a layer of complexity to the scandal. As the frontrunner in the Democratic primary to succeed Mayor Eric Adams, according to recent polls, Cuomo has positioned himself as a moderate in a crowded field. His campaign, however, now faces the shadow of Comer’s referral, which could erode voter confidence. The timing of the DOJ referral, under a Trump administration DOJ, suggests a strategic move to challenge Democratic strongholds like New York City.
Not all of Cuomo’s opponents see malice in his actions. New York State Senator Jessica Ramos, a rival in the mayoral race, suggested that cognitive decline, rather than intentional deceit, might explain Cuomo’s congressional testimony. “I don’t think the City of New York can afford a Joe Biden moment,” Ramos told the New York Post on April 17. “I think that there are real reasons why he’s not answering questions.” Her comments, while pointed, offer a softer critique, framing Cuomo’s lapses as personal rather than criminal.
Ramos elaborated, “Even when he went before Congress, he just can’t remember details about what he did. I imagine having to resign in disgrace must have really taken a toll on, at the very least, his ego, but most certainly his mental health.” Her remarks allude to Cuomo’s 2021 resignation amid allegations of s*xual harassment, detailed in a report by Attorney General James that accused him of harassing 11 women and retaliating against complainants. Cuomo has consistently denied those allegations, but they continue to haunt his political comeback.
The referral to the DOJ raises questions about the Trump administration’s approach to high-profile Democrats. While Comer’s actions are rooted in specific allegations, they fit into a pattern of Republican-led efforts to scrutinize pandemic-era policies under Democratic leadership. The Trump administration’s DOJ, led by Bondi, will now decide whether to pursue charges, a decision that could set a precedent for how past governance is judged in a politically charged climate.
For New Yorkers, the referral complicates an already contentious mayoral race. Cuomo’s experience as governor, once a selling point, now risks being overshadowed by accusations of mismanagement and deceit. Voters must weigh his record against the allegations, even as the Democratic primary field grows increasingly competitive. The outcome of the DOJ’s review could either clear Cuomo’s path or derail his campaign entirely.
The serious implications of Comer’s referral extend beyond New York. It’s also a warning from the Trump administration willing to leverage federal authority to address perceived wrongs, particularly in states long dominated by Democrats. Yet, the pursuit of justice must be balanced against accusations of political overreach. Comer’s insistence on accountability, while firm, avoids the inflammatory rhetoric that could alienate moderates, maintaining a veneer of impartiality.
New Yorkers and the nation watch closely, awaiting clarity on whether Cuomo’s actions warrant the full force of federal prosecution—or if this is merely another chapter in a long, contentious career.
JUST IN: After discovering $382 million in fraudulent unemployment payments since 2020, DOGE identifies three blue states as the primary culprits: California, New York, and Massachusetts.
— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) April 12, 2025
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
