House Subcommittee Refers Cuomo to DOJ Amid Controversies

A Republican-led U.S. House subcommittee is referring former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to the Justice Department for potential prosecution, accusing him of lying to Congress about his role in a COVID-19 report on nursing home deaths. The referral, signed by subcommittee chairman Rep. Brad Wenstrup, alleges that Cuomo engaged in a 'conscious, calculated effort' to avoid accountability by denying his involvement in reviewing or drafting the report, despite evidence of his contributions to early drafts. Cuomo’s spokesperson has dismissed the referral as a 'taxpayer-funded farce' and a political exercise, with Cuomo's legal team requesting a DOJ investigation into the subcommittee for alleged misconduct. Criminal referrals from congressional panels are primarily symbolic, as the Justice Department prosecutes cases at its discretion. This development comes as Cuomo is considering a political comeback amid ongoing controversies surrounding his pandemic management and previous allegations of sexual harassment.