Cuomo, the front-runner in the mayoral race, has been criticized by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) for what the congressman called a “calculated cover-up” in the former governor’s nursing home deaths scandal.

The new ad breaks down several Trump administration investigations into liberal figures like Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan, Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

“First, they arrested a liberal judge in Wisconsin,” the ad, which was shared with the Washington Examiner, begins, showing Dugan. “Then a Democratic congresswoman in New Jersey,” the ad continues, referring to McIver.

“Then they went after New York’s attorney general,” the ad says, referring to the investigation into James for mortgage fraud. “Now they’re attacking Andrew Cuomo to interfere with New York City’s election. Why? Because Andrew Cuomo is the last person they want as mayor. An experienced leader who can stand up to bullies, bring New York back, and deliver for the people of this city. If Donald Trump doesn’t want Andrew Cuomo as mayor, you do,” the ad concludes.

‘If Donald Trump doesn’t want Andrew Cuomo as Mayor, you do.’ See the latest ad from @andrewcuomo below. pic.twitter.com/lopBmMbxNn

— Rich Azzopardi (@RichAzzopardi) May 21, 2025

Democratic strategist Max Burns thinks the ad could work as a way to get voters to vote for Cuomo to spite Trump:

“The investigation is as big as Cuomo wants to make it, since being targeted by Trump is the number one way to make Democratic voters forget why they disliked you,” he told the Washington Examiner. “So he has incentive for it to be very big.”

“Now voters will just see this as more Trump retribution,” he added.

James criticized Cuomo for including her in the ad. She released a scathing report on Cuomo’s sexual harassment allegations that led to his resignation as governor.

“Say my name, say my name. It’s Letitia James, and my candidate is Adrienne Adams,” she told the New York Daily News. The ad did not refer to her by name.

Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi criticized mayoral candidate Scott Stringer for pointing out Trump’s influence on him. “Just to be clear: are you calling on @TishJames to resign? She seems pretty compromised by your standards,” he wrote on X.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for reelection as an independent, did not criticize Cuomo for the investigation. I’m not going to do to him what others did to me,” he told reporters. “I am going to allow the investigation to take its course.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of “politicizing” the DOJ.

“She came after me,” she told NY1. “They’re coming after the Attorney General. They’re coming after a candidate for mayor! So when will Pam Bondi stop politicizing the Department of Justice?”

“I suggest they focus on the core mission and stop targeting Democrats here in New York!” she added.

Cuomo’s camp called the investigation “lawfare and election interference” on Tuesday.

DOJ LAUNCHES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO ANDREW CUOMO

Cuomo’s ad was released just hours after the investigation was announced.

When asked about the speediness of the ad, Azzopardi told the Washington Examiner, “The devil plays hard, we play fast.”