1 month ago
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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a criminal probe into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for allegedly lying to Congress about his COVID-19 pandemic decisions.
👥 Who’s Involved: Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, the U.S. Department of Justice, the House Oversight Committee, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
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📍 Where & When: The U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington, D.C initiated the investigation about a month ago.
💬 Key Quote: Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi stated, “This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple.”
⚠️ Impact: The case could affect Cuomo’s bid to return to frontline politics in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary.
IN FULL:
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a criminal investigation into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo over allegations that he misled Congress about his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The inquiry, launched by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington, D.C., reportedly began a month ago.
The investigation follows a recommendation by House Republicans, who accused Cuomo of providing false statements during a congressional probe into nursing home deaths in New York. In March 2020, Cuomo’s administration issued a directive requiring nursing homes to accept COVID-19-positive patients, a move critics argue exacerbated outbreaks and led to thousands of deaths. Cuomo later rescinded the directive amid backlash.
A 2022 report by the New York state comptroller revealed that the state health department under Cuomo understated nursing home fatalities by as much as 50 percent at certain points during the pandemic.
Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, described the investigation as politically motivated, stating, “This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple.” Cuomo is attempting a political comeback, campaigning in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor.
Cuomo’s main rival, current Mayor Eric Adams, is seeking re-election as an independent candidate. Notably, senior DOJ officials recently dismissed corruption charges against Adams.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) has been vocal in his criticism of Cuomo, calling the alleged falsehoods a “calculated cover-up” and emphasizing that lying to Congress is a federal crime. Comer pledged full cooperation with the DOJ’s investigation, stating, “This wasn’t a slip-up—it was a calculated cover-up by a man seeking to shield himself from responsibility.”
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) faces charges of assaulting two federal agents during a visit to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Newark, New Jersey.
👥 Who’s Involved: Rep. McIver, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D), Reps. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), ICE agents, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents.
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📍 Where & When: Delaney Hall ICE detention facility, Newark, NJ, on May 9, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: McIver argues, “If I’m going to be charged with a crime for doing my job, it just speaks to where we’re headed in this country.”
⚠️ Impact: The incident poses a serious problem for Democrats as their more progressive and liberal wings work to portray the arrest as overreach by the Trump administration. However, more moderate and centrist party members, and voters at large, see the assault as an attack on law enforcement, and the Democratic Party’s continued defense of illegal immigrants over American citizens as distasteful.
IN FULL:
Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) is set to appear virtually before a federal magistrate judge on Wednesday following charges of assaulting two federal agents at an illegal immigrant detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, earlier this month. The Democrat lawmaker, alongside fellow New Jersey Reps. Robert Menendez and Bonnie Watson Coleman, was reportedly conducting oversight duties at the Delaney Hall U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on May 9. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was also present and was also arrested during the incident, though charges against him were later dismissed.
According to prosecutors, McIver allegedly used her forearm to strike a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent and attempted to restrain him. She is also accused of pushing and striking an ICE officer. Bodycam footage reportedly captured the events, which the Justice Department (DOJ) claims show McIver creating a “human shield” to block agents from detaining Baraka after he was warned to leave the property.
McIver has denied the allegations, calling them “purely political.” In a public statement, she said, “Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to inspect the treatment of ICE detainees… We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities… ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka.”
During a CNN interview, McIver criticized federal agents, stating, “They caused the confrontation… We were there to do our jobs.” She added, “If I’m going to be charged with a crime for doing my job, it just speaks to where we’re headed in this country.”
The court approved McIver’s request to appear virtually for her initial hearing, where her rights and charges will be read, and a bail package determined.
Witness accounts suggest tensions escalated when Baraka attempted to join the lawmakers inside the facility and was denied access by federal officials. An argument ensued, leading to his arrest.
The case has drawn criticism from figures like former Border Czar Tom Homan, who argued McIver “broke the law” and should face accountability. Prosecutors maintain that McIver’s actions interfered with federal law enforcement duties, while the Congresswoman insists she was fulfilling her official responsibilities.
WATCH:
🚨WATCH: US Congresswoman, LaMonica McIver (wearing a red blazer), storms the gate of Delaney Hall Detention Center ASSAULTING an ICE agent. pic.twitter.com/4Q1deds1tl
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 10, 2025
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