Republican-led efforts to hold prominent Democrats accountable appear to be intensifying, as House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has officially referred former New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for criminal prosecution. Comer alleges that Cuomo made “criminally false statements” during testimony before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic regarding the state’s handling of nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 crisis. The move is being widely interpreted as a form of political payback for what Republicans argue were years of partisan investigations and legal attacks by Democrats against conservative figures.
At the heart of the referral is Cuomo’s response to questions about his administration’s controversial COVID-19 policies in nursing homes, which many argue contributed to a high number of elderly deaths early in the pandemic. The Oversight Committee’s press release asserts that Cuomo knowingly lied under oath by denying involvement in drafting or editing a New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) report meant to defend his policies. The report in question downplayed nursing home death counts and shifted blame onto staff, a narrative that the Committee claims Cuomo not only supported but directly helped shape behind the scenes.
The Oversight Committee provided specific examples of alleged falsehoods in Cuomo’s June 2024 testimony. He stated that he had no role in drafting the NYSDOH report, no discussions regarding its peer review, and no knowledge of anyone outside the health department reviewing it. The Committee’s findings claim all of these statements were demonstrably false, citing internal emails, testimony, and document drafts that allegedly show Cuomo’s direct involvement. These discrepancies form the basis of the criminal referral under 18 U.S.C. §1001, which prohibits knowingly making false statements to Congress.
In a formal letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chairman Comer emphasized the Committee’s oversight authority and called for action. “The Biden Administration ignored this referral despite clear facts and evidence,” Comer wrote. “Accordingly, we request you review this referral and take appropriate action.” He attached the original October 2024 referral and reiterated that the Committee is willing to cooperate fully with the Justice Department to ensure accountability.
Chairman Comer did not hold back in his public comments, describing Cuomo as “a man with a history of corruption and deceit.” He added, “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.” Comer concluded by stating unequivocally that lying to Congress is a federal crime and called for Cuomo to be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law,” reinforcing the message that no one is above accountability, regardless of political affiliation.
