NEW YORK (WRGB) — The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo over allegations that he lied to Congress regarding decisions made during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report from the New York Times.

About a month ago, the U.S. attorney's office in Washington initiated the inquiry after a referral from Rep. James Comer, the Times said. The investigation was reportedly confirmed by two individuals familiar with the matter.

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, called the investigation "lawfare," multiple outlets reported.

"The answer is obvious: This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple — something President Trump and his top Department of Justice officials say they are against," he said.

This development follows the Justice Department’s recent decision to dismiss a federal indictment against current New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is seeking re-election as an independent candidate. The move, paired with the newly opened case against Cuomo, has raised concerns among critics about potential political motivations within the DOJ.

Cuomo, who leads the Democratic primary field according to recent polling, is seen as the chief rival to Mayor Adams in the upcoming election. The contrasting legal developments involving both candidates have intensified accusations that President Trump’s administration is using the Justice Department to target political opponents.

Critics argue that the back-to-back decisions reflect a weaponization of federal law enforcement.

Whether the investigation will affect Cuomo’s campaign remains to be seen.

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Editor's note: The National News Desk's Alexx Altman-Devilbiss contributed to this article.