The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo over allegations he lied to Congress about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The probe focuses on Cuomo’s March 2020 directive that sent over 9,000 COVID-positive patients into nursing homes, which critics say worsened outbreaks and deaths.

House Republicans previously accused Cuomo of making false statements during a congressional investigation and referred him for prosecution, Fox News has reported.

Cuomo, now a frontrunner in the NYC mayoral race, denies wrongdoing and calls the investigation politically motivated.

Written by B.C. Begley