CNN fires Chris Cuomo

CNN says it has hired a law firm to investigate his involvement in the defence of his brother, former NY governor Andrew Cuomo.

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo has been fired from CNN. Picture: Getty

CNN said it has fired anchor Chris Cuomo after an investigation into his efforts to help his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, respond to accusations of sexual misconduct.

In a statement Saturday, CNN said it had hired a law firm to investigate Chris Cuomo’s conduct after newly released records by the office of New York Attorney-General Letitia James showed the anchor had taken a greater role in the defence of Andrew Cuomo than was previously known.

CNN said it decided to fire Chris Cuomo based on the results of that review. “While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light,” the statement said. “Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate.” Chris Cuomo said in a statement on Twitter this isn’t how he had wanted his time at CNN to end, and thanked his co-workers.

“I owe them all and I will miss that group of special people who did really important work,” Chris Cuomo’s statement said.

On Monday, Ms. James’s office released new records that showed Chris Cuomo checked with sources to find out if stories about his brother’s accusers were forthcoming and gave detailed feedback on his brother’s statements to the press.

CNN on Tuesday suspended Chris Cuomo indefinitely. “These documents point to a greater level of involvement in his brother’s efforts than we previously knew,” a CNN spokesman said at the time.

Andrew Cuomo resigned earlier this year after Ms. James’s office published a report saying he sexually harassed multiple women in violation of state and federal laws, created a hostile work environment and retaliated against at least one former employee. Andrew Cuomo has said that he never touched anyone inappropriately.

Chris Cuomo apologised on-air in May after the Washington Post reported that he took part in strategy sessions involving his brother’s top aides as the former governor sought to respond to widening allegations of sexual harassment. At the time, CNN President Jeff Zucker told employees that Chris Cuomo’s involvement in his brother’s defence was “a mistake” but didn’t suspend the anchor, saying that would be “punishment for the sake of punishing.” Chris Cuomo’s fate at the network turned this week after the records were released. Mr. Zucker suspended the anchor after a face-to-face meeting Tuesday; on Wednesday, Chris Cuomo said on his radio show that being suspended was embarrassing but added he supported CNN’s review process.

The Wall Street Journal