Published: November 30, 2021
By: Bernadette Hogan, Elizabeth Rosner, Sam Raskin, and Bruce Golding
CNN “indefinitely” suspended host Chris Cuomo on Tuesday over his secret role in trying to defend his brother, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, from the sexual harassment allegations that forced him from office — and for using his journalistic resources to aid that effort.
The move came a day after state Attorney General Letitia James released a trove of subpoenaed records that include texts showing the “Cuomo Prime Time” star agreed to contact news industry “sources” for advance information on damaging reports regarding his older brother.
In a prepared statement, CNN said the material “shed new light on Chris Cuomo’s involvement in his brother’s defense.”
“The documents, which we were not privy to before their public release, raise serious questions,” the network said.
“When Chris admitted to us that he had offered advice to his brother’s staff, he broke our rules and we acknowledged that publicly. But we also appreciated the unique position he was in and understood his need to put family first and job second.”
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Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo heeded his brother Chris’ advice during the COVID-19 pandemic - Getty Images for HBO |
CNN added: “However, these documents point to a greater level of involvement in his brother’s efforts than we previously knew. As a result, we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation.”
Chris Cuomo’s CNN contract is worth $6 million a year, according to the Celebrity Net Worth website, and last year he told listeners of his SiriusXM radio show that he’d renewed the deal for an unspecified length of time, Variety reported.
His benching came less than four months after Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace rather than face an all-but-certain impeachment over an Aug. 3 report released by James that found he’d sexually harassed 11 women, including nine current or former state employees.
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| Chris Cuomo has been suspended by CNN. - Getty Images for CNN |
It also capped a year in which both brothers saw their public personas shattered after Andrew Cuomo’s daily coronavirus briefings turned him into a media darling who repeatedly appeared on his younger brother’s show, where they teased each other and argued over which one their mom loves more.
The then-governor also had his kid brother, at the time quarantined with COVID-19, appear remotely at one of his briefings to tell how he could “barely, you know, keep it together” and recount a fever dream that featured Andrew Cuomo dancing and waving a wand while saying, “I wish I could make this go away.”
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| Chris Cuomo was revealed to be helping his brother, ex-Gov. Andrew, during the latter’s sex scandal. - Matt Agudo/Shutterstock |
CNN previously stood by the anchor of its weekday 9 p.m. show following a May report by the Washington Post that revealed he took part in behind-the-scenes strategy sessions with his brother’s top aides and advisers.
But calls for Chris Cuomo, 51, to be fired intensified after the newly released evidence laid bare the extent of his dual role as network anchor and gubernatorial adviser, with even fellow CNN employees telling The Post earlier Tuesday that he needed to go.
“How does he still have a job at the network? He’s not a journalist,” one staffer said.
“‘Cuomo Prime Time’ has the lowest ratings to date. The viewers no longer trust him. His reign at CNN has to end.”
Another said he had no “journalistic integrity.”
“Chris Cuomo enabled a sexual predator, the former governor of New York,” the staffer said.
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