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Nine Democratic candidate The first debate of two debates took place in New York City on Wednesday ahead of the mayoral primary on June 24th, with the claws coming out for former governor Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo’s Covid-19 scandal was front and center in just minutes of discussion as moderators asked candidates how to stand up to the president Donald Trump If you are elected mayor.
The former governor dismissed the legitimacy Department of Justice Investigation On his false parliamentary testimony about decisions made during Covid-19 when pressed by political moderator Sally Goldenberg.
“That’s the Maga Line, the Trump Line, because it was Trump’s reelection,” Cuomo said when repeatedly asked if he had a role in writing the contested Covid-19 report.
Andrew Cuomo, the main major targets in New York City shift to high gear
New York Mayor Andrew Cuomo was in a major Democratic mayor debate in New York on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Iwamura/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Cuomo said Department of Justice Investigation Another example of the “political soccer” pandemic game.
“This is what Trump does. He started investigating me. I started investigating Kathy Hochul, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton. This is one of his tactics,” Cuomo said.
Also Join Cuomo During the debate stages on Wednesday night, City Council Chair Adrian Adams, City Director Brad Lander, Former City Director Scott Stringer, former state legislator Michael Blake, Brooklyn Sen. Zelner Miley, Queens Sen. Jessica Ramos, and former hedge fund Sen. Whiteney Tilson.
The Democratic mayoral primary winner will be considered an overwhelming favourite to win the November general election in Blue City. Early voting The Democratic primary for New York City mayor will begin on June 14th and run until June 22nd.
Cuomo is clear Voting and Funding Front Runner In the Democratic primary, given his recognition and experience of his name.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is running for reelection this year as an independent. (AP/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Incumbent mayor Eric Adams, who has found an unlikely basis for his efforts to combat illegal immigration, has run as independence. The Justice Department made an unusual decision earlier this year to dismiss the charges against Adams on federal corruption charges.
“I’ve dealt with him before, so I know how to deal with Donald Trump,” Cuomo said during the discussion stage.
Cuomo promoted his experience as governor. He especially promoted it for challenging Trump’s agenda during his first term as president.
“I’m the last person I want to consider Trump as mayor at this stage, so that’s why people in this city are the first choice they can choose as mayor,” Cuomo said.
(L-R): Democratic mayoral candidates Brad Lander, Jessica Ramos, Zellnor Myrie, Andrew Cuomo, Whitney Tilson and Zohran Mamdani participated in a major democratic mayoral discussion on June 4, 2025 at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Center Studio in New York. (via Yuki Iwamura/Pool/AFP Getty Images)
Cuomo said when he was pushed again by the moderator and his competitors. He told Congress Truth about the number of nursing home deaths in New York during Covid-19, the basis of the Department of Justice investigation.
“No, I told Congress the truth,” Cuomo said. “No, we didn’t overturn death.”
Still, Cuomo refused to answer whether he was involved in the production of the contested Covid-19 report.
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The former governor was burned by Republican lawmakers Last year, he handled the Covid-19 pandemic. House Republicans subsequently recommended that the Justice Department pursue criminal charges against him. They accused the House Oversight Committee of intentionally lying to Congress while investigating excessive numbers of nursing home deaths.
Paul Steinhauser and Greg Wehner of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
