CNN anchor Chris Cuomo acknowledged he advised his brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to step down in the face of sexual harassment allegations and defended his reporting on the network, saying he “never” misled viewers.
The journalist began his show Monday, after a week on summer vacation, telling his audience he would have a “note” on his brother, who announced last week he would resign following the release of a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James detailing sexual harassment allegations involving 11 women. Cuomo proceeded to spend most of his show talking about the situation in Afghanistan and the coronavirus pandemic before getting to his personal message.
“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.
“There are a lot of people feeling a lot of hurt and a lot of pain right now. My hope is that ultimately, everyone involved can get to a better place. That some higher good will be served in all of this. As for me, I’ve told you it’s never easy being in this business and coming from a political family, especially now. The situation is unlike anything I could have imagined. And yet, I know what matters at work and at home. Everyone knows you support your family. I know and appreciate that you get that. But you should also know I never covered my brother’s troubles because I obviously have a conflict, and there are rules at CNN about that,” Cuomo added.
CNN’s Chris Cuomo addresses the situation with his brother, saying that he urged him to resign:
“It was a unique situation being a brother to a politician in a scandal and being part of the media. I tried to do the right thing and I just want you all to know that.” pic.twitter.com/DG4Fq7vSfJ
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 17, 2021
“I said last year that his appearances on this show would be short-lived, and they were. The last was over a year ago, long before any kind of scandal. I also said back then that a day would come when he would have to be held to account, and I can’t do that. I said point-blank, ‘I can’t be objective when it comes to my family.’ So I never reported on the scandal, and when it happened, I tried to be there for my brother,” Cuomo continued.
SOURCE SAYS CHRIS CUOMO STAYED IN LINE WITH NETWORK EXPECTATIONS ABOUT ADVISING BROTHER SINCE MAY
“I’m not an adviser. I’m a brother. I wasn’t in control of anything. I was there to listen and offer my take, and my advice to my brother was simple and consistent: Own what you did, tell people what you’ll do to be better, be contrite, and finally, accept that it doesn’t matter what you intended. What matters is how your actions and words were perceived. And yes, while it was something I never ever imagined having to do, I did urge my brother to resign when the time came,” Cuomo said.
The cable news anchor then criticized reporting that only touched on what he told his brother. However, he did not name any specific outlets.
The Washington Post reported in May he advised his brother to remain defiant and not step down at that time, according to sources who said he used the phrase “cancel culture” as a reason not to bend as he faced the allegations of sexual harassment.
“There are stories and critics saying all kinds of things about me. Many unsupported, but know this: My position has never changed. I never misled anyone about the information I was delivering or not delivering on this program. I never attacked nor encouraged anyone to attack any woman who came forward. I never made calls to the press about my brother’s situation. I never influenced or attempted to control CNN’s coverage of my family. And as you know, back in May, when I was told to no longer communicate with my brother’s aides in any group meetings, I acknowledged it was a mistake, I apologized to my colleagues, and I stopped, and I meant it. It was a unique situation being a brother to a politician in a scandal and being part of the media. I tried to do the right thing, and I just want you all to know that,” he added.
“As I’ve said, we have rules here at CNN that prevent me from reporting on my brother. They remain in place and will continue to. Tonight, I simply wanted to address something that, given what’s happened, I just felt it needed to be said. This will be my final word on it, and I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to do so,” Cuomo said in conclusion before cutting to a break.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Andrew Cuomo, 63, denied claims in the state attorney general’s report, which also included talk of a “toxic culture” of fear and intimidation in his office. But the Democratic governor faced immense pressure to step aside, including from President Joe Biden, and announced his resignation on Tuesday, which would be effective in two weeks.
“I feel like I did the right thing. I did the right thing for the state. I’m not gonna drag the state through the mud, through a three-month, four-month impeachment, and then win, and have made the State Legislature and the state government look like a ship of fools when everything I’ve done all my life was for the exact opposite. I’m not doing that. I feel good. I’m not a martyr. It’s just, I saw the options, option A, option B,” he said in a New York Magazine profile published Friday evening.
Carl Heastie, the speaker of the New York State Assembly, said the impeachment inquiry would be suspended on Aug. 25, the day Cuomo is set to be replaced by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. Cuomo still faces multiple inquiries in local jurisdictions, including a criminal investigation in Albany County stemming from accusations that he groped a former aide.
