Chris Cuomo: CNN fires manager for helping ex-New York governor’s brother, who faces sexual harassment charges | US News

American news network CNN has fired its curator Chris Cuomo less than a week after it emerged that he was supporting his brother, who is facing sexual harassment allegations.

Cuomo helped strategize and reach out to other journalists as Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, was fighting to keep his job.

After women made sexual harassment allegations against the former governor, Cuomo pressed sources for information on the accusers and reported back to the governor’s staff on what he was learning.

He actively helped draft their response to the charges, according to emails and transcripts of his testimony to investigators working for State Attorney General Letitia James. Her office found that Andrew Cuomo had sexually harassed at least 11 women.

The former governor resigned in August to avoid a possible impeachment trial.

CNN suspended primetime host Cuomo on Tuesday to investigate his conduct after it was reported that he was more involved in helping his brother than previously known.

Lawyers for a law firm hired by CNN to investigate have recommended that Cuomo be removed from his role.

CNN director Jeff Zucker informed the anchor of the decision on Saturday.

Cuomo posted in a statement on Twitter after losing his job: “This is not how I wanted my time at CNN to end but I told you why and how I helped my brother. So, Now let me say it’s disappointing.I couldn’t be prouder of the team at Cuomo Prime Time and the work we’ve done as CNN’s #1 show in the most competitive time slot.

“I owe it all to them and will miss this special group of people who did really important work.”

CNN said “additional information” has “come to light” during the investigation. However, it would not discuss that information or describe whether it had anything to do with his brother.

The network also said it will continue to investigate the behavior of their former manager.

A year ago, Cuomo was a top-rated figure on CNN, while his brother, a three-term governor, was praised for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, both are now retired.

Cuomo and CNN have been criticized for months over the anchorman’s behavior.

When it first emerged in May that the anchor had spoken to his brother’s advisers, the network acknowledged that he had broken its rules but, as CNN said in a statement when He was suspended earlier this week, “we also appreciate the unique position he has taken and understands his need to put family first and work second”.

The transcript released by Ms. James this week reveals significantly more detail about Cuomo’s involvement – behavior that CNN executives admitted was a surprise even to them.

While Cuomo said he never tried to influence CNN’s coverage of his brother, he did tell investigators to Ms James about his calls with other journalists to find out what information they have about some of his accusers.

That seems to contradict an online statement Cuomo made on CNN after his brother resigned in August. “I never called the press about my brother’s situation.”

Cuomo also said that he never “assaulted, nor encouraged anyone to attack any woman who came in front of him” with the accusations against his brother.

According to email transcripts released this week, Cuomo wrote to aides that “I have a direction” toward one of the accusers, though it’s unclear what he meant.