CNN fired host Chris Cuomo amid fallout from his brother’s sexual harassment scandal after receiving “additional information,” according to the network.
CNN suspended Cuomo indefinitely last week after text messages and transcripts released by New York Attorney General Letitia James showed that the CNN anchor had a more active role in helping to fight sexual harassment allegations against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo than previously reported.
Cuomo acknowledged earlier this year that he helped his brother fight the allegations but the new documents showed that Cuomo used his media sources to get out ahead of potentially damaging stories and probed for information on his brother’s accusers.
"I'm not an adviser. I'm a brother. I wasn't in control of anything. I was there to listen and offer my take," Cuomo said in August.
CNN backed the anchor until last week’s release, which prompted backlash from CNN employees.
Fired:
CNN said Saturday that they have fired Cuomo but will keep his staff in place.
"Chris Cuomo was suspended earlier this week pending further evaluation of new information that came to light about his involvement with his brother's defense. We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately,” the network said in a statement.
"While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light," the statement said. "Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate."
Cuomo said in a statement, "This is not how I want my time at CNN to end but I have already told you why and how I helped my brother. So let me now say as disappointing as this is, I could not be more proud of the team at Cuomo Prime Time and the work we did as CNN's #1 show in the most competitive time slot. I owe them all and will miss that group of special people who did really important work."
Sexual misconduct allegation:
Attorney Debra Katz informed CNN of a client with a sexual misconduct allegation against Cuomo last Wednesday, she told The New York Times.
Katz said the allegation was from a “former junior colleague at another network.”
Cuomo denied the allegation.
“Based on the report we received regarding Chris’s conduct with his brother’s defense, we had cause to terminate,” CNN said in a statement. “When new allegations came to us this week, we took them seriously, and saw no reason to delay taking immediate action.”
