• Justice Department has initiated a criminal probe into Andrew Cuomo over COVID-19 statements.
• Cuomo is accused of lying about nursing home policies during the pandemic.
• The investigation has been described as "lawfare" and "election interference" by Cuomo's camp.
• This inquiry occurs as Cuomo runs for mayor of New York City against Eric Adams.
• The political landscape has shifted, creating mixed reactions among Cuomo's rivals.

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) has opened a criminal investigation into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a prominent candidate in the New York City mayoral race. This inquiry stems from allegations that Cuomo lied to Congress during a hearing about his administration's handling of COVID-19, particularly regarding nursing home policies, according to The New York Times and Reuters.

The investigation began about a month ago, following a referral from Congressional Republicans who accused Cuomo of providing false testimony during a subcommittee investigation. It has prompted questioning of the Justice Department's motives, particularly amidst allegations that the Trump administration is using federal resources to target political opponents, as reported by The Hill and HuffPost.

Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, firmly denied any knowledge of the investigation, branding it as "lawfare and election interference." He emphasized that Cuomo had testified honestly about the state's COVID-19 response, arguing that the probe is politically motivated, as stated in reports from India Times and BBC.

This investigation adds tension to Cuomo's mayoral campaign ahead of the Democratic primary scheduled for June 24, where he leads in polls against current Mayor Eric Adams, who recently saw corruption charges against him dropped by federal prosecutors, a move interpreted by some as politically charged. The timing of Cuomo's investigation raises questions, with critics suggesting that the DOJ's actions reflect a broader pattern of targeting Trump's political adversaries, according to The New York Times and HuffPost.