Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing intense scrutiny from his Democratic opponents in the mayoral race following accusations that he lied to Congress about the undercounting of nursing home deaths during the pandemic. During a recent debate, fellow Democratic candidates pressed him on the issue, with some demanding he answer directly and others suggesting his alleged misrepresentation could constitute perjury. While Cuomo consistently denied the claims, he instead shifted the focus to the broader political narrative, calling the allegations a partisan attack motivated by the Trump administration’s ongoing investigation.
Michael Blake, a former state assemblyman running for mayor, was particularly vocal in his criticism. “The people died and he still won’t answer your questions,” Blake said, emphasizing the urgency of the issue. Similarly, Brad Lander, New York’s comptroller, accused Cuomo of not only lying to Congress but also to grieving families, suggesting his actions were driven by self-interest, including a potential $5 million book deal he announced earlier this year. The controversy has intensified over the past months as multiple independent reports have raised concerns over the accuracy of nursing home death data during the pandemic.
Key among these reports is the 2022 state comptroller’s analysis, which found that New York’s Health Department significantly underestimated the number of deaths in nursing homes during peak lockdown periods. In some cases, the undercounting was as high as 50%, according to the report. These findings have aligned with similar findings by the New York Attorney General, Letitia James, who also highlighted the state’s lack of transparency in reporting death numbers. As the scandal continues to unfold, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice has confirmed that it is investigating whether Cuomo provided false information to Congress regarding his role in the administration during the pandemic.
Cuomo’s position as a former governor has become a focal point of the investigation. His March 2020 directive to nursing homes, which initially barred them from turning away positive coronavirus patients, has been scrutinized as a critical factor in the surge of outbreaks. The Directive ultimately led to over 9,000 coronavirus patients being released from hospitals and placed into nursing homes, many of whom later tested positive again. The resulting waves of infections and subsequent deaths have sparked renewed debates over the ethical and administrative responsibilities of state leaders during public health crises. These ongoing inquiries into Cuomo’s past actions have now positioned him as the central figure in a broader political and legal battle over accountability in governance during the pandemic.