WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Department is investigating Democrat Andrew Cuomo, a leading candidate for mayor of New York City, over Republican allegations that he lied to Congress about what he did as New York governor during the coronavirus pandemic, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Five organizations that had grants terminated by the U.S. Justice Department in April are suing the department and Attorney General Pam Bondi, calling the cancellations unconstitutional and asking that the money be reinstated.

The Justice Department said it will bring an end to investigations launched during the Biden administration after the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville.

The Justice Department may move decisions about charging public from headquarters to regional U.S. attorney offices.

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo after congressional Republicans recommended that he be charged with lying over his handling of the covid-19 pandemic,