Chris Cuomo, a CNN anchor, was permanently banned on Tuesday after revelations emerged about how he assisted his brother, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, in dealing with sexual harassment charges earlier this year.
Cuomo had a higher level of participation in his brother’s activities than CNN executives previously knew, according to records revealed by New York’s attorney general on Monday. “As a result,” the network added, “we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation.”
According to emails and a summary of his evidence to investigators working for New York Attorney General Letitia James, the CNN anchor pressed sources for information on his brother’s accusers and reported back to the governor’s staff, and was active in helping craft their response to the charges.
Andrew Cuomo sexually assaulted about 11 women, according to her office.
Chris Cuomo had admitted to speaking with his brother and offered advice when the governor was accused of sexual harassment. However, the facts published on Monday revealed a lot more about what he did. Andrew Cuomo resigned in August to avert the possibility of being impeached.
According to Nielsen, Cuomo’s show, which telecasted at 9 p.m. ET on weeknights, averaged 1.3 million viewers, just beating Anderson Cooper as CNN’s most popular show. Viewership has plummeted after a spike during the election season, as it has for many cable news broadcasts.
On Monday night, Cuomo appeared on his show, talking about COVID-19 and politics without discussing his own problems. Cuomo and the lawyer who defended him during his appearance last summer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cuomo interviewed his brother on the radio several times within the first two months of the outbreak. It was well-received by viewers, despite CNN’s policy of not having Cuomo report on his brother.
Source: CBC News
