CNN anchor Chris Cuomo made a “mistake” in participating in strategy calls with his brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and his staff, according to one of the cable news network’s top executives.
Jeff Zucker, chairman of CNN parent WarnerMedia’s news division, told staffers he understood the “unease” over Cuomo’s actions, saying “in no uncertain terms” it was a “mistake” for the anchor to participate in strategy calls as the New York governor contended with mounting allegations of sexual harassment earlier this year.
“He did cross a line,” Zucker told staff during a Tuesday afternoon town-hall meeting, according to the Daily Beast.
ANDREW CUOMO SAYS HE REGULARLY GETS ADVICE FROM JOURNALISTS OTHER THAN HIS BROTHER
Zucker said he personally expressed his displeasure to Chris Cuomo, and he decided the anchor should apologize on-air to viewers instead of suspending him, the report added.
Chris Cuomo apologized on his show, Cuomo Prime Time, on Thursday.
“I understand why that was a problem for CNN,” he said. “It will not happen again. It was a mistake because I put my colleagues here, who I believe are the best in the business, in a bad spot. I never intended for that. I would never intend for that, and I am sorry for that.”
Chris Cuomo took part in a series of conference calls with the governor and several of his top aides and lawyers aimed at crafting a public relations strategy regarding the growing list of women accusing the governor of sexual harassment earlier this year, the Washington Post reported on Thursday. The CNN anchor reportedly dissuaded his brother from resigning and invoked the phrase “cancel culture” in his argument.
CNN told the Washington Examiner in a statement that it was “inappropriate” for the anchor to participate in such meetings but said he won’t be disciplined for it.
“Chris has not been involved in CNN’s extensive coverage of the allegations against Governor Cuomo — on air or behind the scenes,” the network stated. “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.”
“However, it was inappropriate to engage in conversations that included members of the Governor’s staff, which Chris acknowledges,” it added. “He will not participate in such conversations going forward.”
The governor’s office acknowledged the conversations, with Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for the governor, telling the Washington Examiner, “There were a few phone conversations, with friends and advisers giving the governor advice.”
The New York Democrat said on Monday that he often receives advice from members of the press other than his brother.
“I had conversations with my brother. I always have conversations with my brother because he’s my brother and he’s my best friend. Obviously, he was aware of what was going on, and I talked to him about it, and he told me his thoughts,” the governor said Monday afternoon on Long Island. “He always tells me his thoughts. … But I talk to journalists about situations all the time, and they tell me their thoughts and their advice.”
Andrew Cuomo faces sexual harassment accusations from more than 10 women, and the allegations have resulted in two investigations: New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating the claims at the state level, and New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is directing an “impeachment investigation” to look into the matter in the State Legislature. The governor apologized for making anyone feel uncomfortable but has denied all charges of inappropriate touching.
James’s investigation into accusations of sexual harassment was expanded earlier this month to look into claims that a top adviser tied counties’ COVID-19 vaccine access to support for the governor, which Beth Garvey, Cuomo’s counsel, said “malign[ed] a decadeslong public servant.”
In a separate matter, James recently received a referral to conduct a criminal investigation into the governor’s use of state resources to promote his book about leadership during the pandemic, American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from COVID-19 Pandemic, after a March 31 ethics complaint from a liberal watchdog group sought an inquiry into whether he violated a law prohibiting “the use of campaign funds for personal use.” Cuomo insisted members of his staff volunteered to help with the book, for which he is expected to earn more than $5 million, but his office acknowledged that there might be some “incidental” use of state resources, according to the New York Times.
The Democratic governor has also been accused of directing state health officials to give special COVID-19 testing access to members of his inner circle, including Chris Cuomo, claims denied by Azzopardi as “insincere efforts to rewrite the past,” in an email to the Washington Examiner.
In addition, the governor is under federal investigation for his handling of nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic after Melissa DeRosa, a top Cuomo aide, acknowledged that the governor’s office hid the state’s nursing home coronavirus death toll out of fear of political retribution from then-President Donald Trump.
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Despite pressure from within his own party, Cuomo, who is eligible for reelection in 2022, has heeded his brother’s advice and resisted calls to resign, saying the allegations of impropriety are false.
A representative for CNN did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner‘s request for comment.
