Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
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WASHINGTON — The Justice Division is conducting a prison investigation into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a number one contender within the New York Metropolis mayoral race, over his testimony to Congress final yr, in accordance with an individual conversant in the matter.
Home Republicans had requested a federal investigation into Cuomo, a Democrat, arguing he lied to the Home Oversight Committee final yr when he stated he hadn’t been concerned in reviewing a report from the state Well being Division in regards to the state’s dealing with of the coronavirus pandemic when he was governor.
A Justice Division spokesperson declined to remark Tuesday evening. The New York Occasions first reported the investigation.
Wealthy Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, questioned the timing of the information.
“Now we have by no means been knowledgeable of any such matter, so why would somebody leak it now? The reply is apparent: That is lawfare and election interference plain and easy—one thing President Trump and his high Division of Justice officers say they’re towards,” Azzopardi stated in an announcement.
He additionally defended Cuomo’s congressional testimony.
“Governor Cuomo testified honestly to the perfect of his recollection about occasions from 4 years earlier, and he provided to deal with any follow-up questions from the Subcommittee — however from the start this was all transparently political,” Azzopardi stated.
The Republican-led committee stated that it had questioned Cuomo about whether or not he knew individuals exterior the Well being Division who performed roles in drafting or enhancing the assessment; Cuomo indicated he did not.
A former govt assistant to Cuomo had testified that the notes written on a draft of the report seemed like they had been in his handwriting, the committee stated. It additionally put ahead a June 2020 e mail addressed to staffers within the governor’s workplace that the “Governor’s edits are connected in your assessment.”
Cuomo resigned as governor in August 2021 after state Lawyer Basic Letitia James’ workplace revealed a report that discovered he had sexually harassed a number of girls, together with former aides, and the state Meeting launched an impeachment investigation. Cuomo has denied the allegations in James’ report.
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The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the District of Columbia launched the probe earlier than former Fox Information host Jeanine Pirro changed Ed Martin as interim U.S. legal professional, in accordance with the individual conversant in the matter.
Martin, who revealed on his final day in workplace that he faces an investigation by Washington’s Workplace of Disciplinary Counsel, stated final week that he deliberate to “disgrace” individuals whom the Justice Division did not cost with crimes — a significant departure from Justice Division protocol.
Early in Trump’s second time period, a number of Justice Division officers resigned over the dealing with of a federal case towards New York Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who’s looking for re-election as an unbiased.
Trump administration officers needed the corruption case towards Adams dropped after he started cooperating with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement. Then-acting Deputy Lawyer Basic Emil Bove stated the prison investigation was hampering Adams’ capability to sort out “unlawful immigration and violent crime.”
A federal choose final month completely dismissed the costs towards Adams, saying potential future fees could not be used as “leverage” over him.