Chris Cuomo has been accused of sexually harassing his boss more than a decade ago, allegations that are surfacing just one month after his brother stepped down as governor of New York.
Shelley Ross, a television producer who says she was Cuomo’s boss while he worked at ABC News, accused Cuomo of touching her inappropriately at a work party in 2005, saying he “greeted [her] with a strong bear hug while lowering one hand to firmly grab and squeeze the cheek of [her] buttock.”
“I can do this now that you’re no longer my boss,” he allegedly told Ross, to which she replied, “No, you can’t.”
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After Ross pushed Cuomo off and revealed her husband, who was standing nearby and observed the encounter, the pair left, Ross wrote. Cuomo later told Ross he was “ashamed,” apologizing to her “very good and noble husband” and to her for “even putting [her] in such a position,” according to a screenshot of a June 1, 2005, email Cuomo purportedly sent to Ross.
Representatives for CNN and ABC News did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s requests for comment.
The allegation against Cuomo comes one month after his brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, stepped down from his position as governor of New York amid similar charges. After several women accused the then-governor of sexual harassment, state Attorney General Letitia James opened an investigation, which concluded in a bombshell Aug. 3 report stating that Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo, who denied touching anyone inappropriately, then resigned on Aug. 23 amid mounting political pressure.
In the aftermath of Cuomo’s resignation, many of those in the former governor’s inner circle have stepped down, some of whom helped the administration retaliate against at least one accuser, according to James’s report. Both the CEO and the chairwoman of anti-harassment group Time’s Up vacated their positions amid allegations the organization shielded Cuomo after the first accuser, Lindsey Boylan, stepped forward in December 2020. Several appointees from the Cuomo administration, including the health commissioner who oversaw the state’s nursing home controversy and the state’s inspector general, also resigned amid claims they were aligned with the former administration.
Still, Chris Cuomo, who remained loyal to his brother and urged him not to resign toward the end of his governorship despite the mounting pressure, has stayed in his position as host of CNN’s Cuomo Prime Time. Cuomo, who was on vacation at the time his brother announced he would resign his position, largely avoided discussing the accusations on his show, offering a brief “note” on his brother’s decision.
“Before we wrap up tonight, there is one more thing I do want to say about me, my brother, my family, and you. First, thank you. Thank you for reaching out. I appreciate the concern and the support. I really do. My brother, as you know, resigned as governor of New York and will be stepping down next week,” he said on Aug. 16, the first broadcast since returning from his vacation.
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Though many have called for Cuomo’s ouster at CNN, arguing his close relationship with his brother compromised his journalistic integrity, Ross said she’s “not looking for him to lose his job.”
“I have no grudge against Mr. Cuomo … I’m not asking for Mr. Cuomo to become the next casualty in this continuing terrible story. I hope he stays at CNN forever if he chooses,” she wrote. “I would, however, like to see him journalistically repent: agree on air to study the impact of sexism, harassment and gender bias in the workplace, including his own, and then report on it. He could host a series of live town hall meetings, with documentary footage, produced by women with expert consultants. Call it ‘The Continuing Education of Chris Cuomo’ and make this a watershed moment instead of another stain on the career of one more powerful male news anchor.”
