#FBI, US Attorney probing Cuomo’s nursing home death scandal

The FBI and the US Attorney’s office have reportedly opened an investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling of nursing homes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The investigation, revealed by the Times Union, is examining the actions of members of Cuomo’s coronavirus task force.

The unit, created last March, initially consisted of 13 members, including state health Commissioner Howard Zucker and Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa.

Cuomo’s administration has faced fierce criticism for a since-rescinded March 25 state Health Department directive ordering nursing homes to accept coronavirus patients discharged from hospitals, regardless of their test outcomes.

Critics argue the Health Department order contributed to the death toll, and spread, of the virus.

The controversy was heightened last month when state Attorney General Letitia James released a damning report finding some nursing homes apparently underreported resident COVID-19 deaths to the state.

And last week, The Post exclusively revealed the governor’s office hid nursing home death numbers from the state legislature.

Cuomo’s top aide, DeRosa, privately admitted the administration withheld the data over fears it would be “used against us” by federal prosecutors.

Responding to news of the federal probe, Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said, “As we publicly said, DOJ has been looking into this for months. We have been cooperating with them and we will continue to.”