CNN’s Chris Cuomo engaged in “inappropriate” conversations with brother’s staff, the network says
Chris Cuomo #ChrisCuomo
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo engaged in “inappropriate” conversations with the staff of his brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, the cable network said Thursday, though he took himself out of on-air coverage of the sexual harassment allegations against his brother.
The Washington Post reported that Chris Cuomo participated in strategy phone calls with senior staff members for his brother regarding the sexual harassment allegations.
Chris Cuomo encouraged his brother to take a “defiant position” amid growing calls for his resignation, The Post said. Two people present on one call told the newspaper that Chris Cuomo brought up “cancel culture” when encouraging his brother to stand his ground in the scandal.
“Chris has not been involved in CNN’s extensive coverage of the allegations against Governor Cuomo — on air or behind the scenes,” a spokesperson for the cable network told NBC News. “In part because, as he has said on his show, he could never be objective. But also because he often serves as a sounding board for his brother.”
He would not be participating in future calls, as CNN said Chris Cuomo acknowledged it was “inappropriate to engage in conversations that included members of the Governor’s staff.” The primetime anchor will not face discipline from the network.
Richard Azzopardi, a spokesman for the governor’s office, told NBC News that there were “a few phone calls” with Andrew Cuomo, friends and advisors.
Cuomo accuser speaks with investigators
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More than half a dozen women, including staffers, have publicly accused Andrew Cuomo of harassment. The governor has denied touching anyone inappropriately but acknowledged that he may have acted in ways that made people feel uncomfortable.
Though Cuomo initially apologized for his actions, he has since pushed back and claimed that making someone uncomfortable is not harassment.
“Harassment is not making someone feel uncomfortable — that is not harassment,” the governor said last week. “If I just made you feel uncomfortable, that is not harassment. That’s you feeling uncomfortable.”
The statement was made after Rebecca Lewis, of the website City & State New York, asked whether he’d acknowledge that the motivation behind his alleged harassing comments to accuser Charlotte Bennett were irrelevant.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating the sexual harassment and misconduct allegations against Cuomo, including Bennett’s.