Justice Dept. investigating former New York Gov. Cuomo over pandemic testimony, AP source says

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press WASHINGTON AP The Justice Department has opened a criminal examination into former New York Gov Andrew Cuomo after congressional Republicans recommended that he be charged with lying over his handling of the COVID- pandemic a person familiar with the matter mentioned Tuesday Related Articles Venezuela frees US Air Force veteran considered wrongfully detained his family says Hegseth orders new review of Afghanistan withdrawal and suicide bombing at Kabul airport Biden s office says his last known prostate cancer screening was in Rubio defends Trump s foreign program as Democrats press him on Gaza aid and white South Africans Arizona taxpayers still paying for immigration crackdowns from more than a decade ago The U S attorney s office in Washington launched the scrutiny shortly after Rep James Comer Republican chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Authorities Overhaul demanded the Justice Department to prosecute Cuomo over statements he made to the committee scrutinizing his management of the pandemic when the virus was spreading through nursing homes the person explained They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing review A spokesperson for Cuomo disclosed Tuesday that the former governor was never informed of any such inspection Cuomo is at this time running for mayor of New York City So why would someone leak it now The answer is obvious This is lawfare and balloting interference plain and simple something President Trump and his top Department of Justice personnel say they are against Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi announced in an email The assessment was first disclosed Tuesday by The New York Times The Justice Department declined Tuesday to comment Spokespeople for the U S attorney s office in Washington didn t at once respond to messages seeking comment