The Wall Street Journal released a report on Sunday morning stating that ex-CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who was recently fired from the network, claimed network president Jeff Zucker was well aware of his efforts to help his brother and disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to navigate through the public relations nightmare that resulted from numerous accusations of sexual harassment.
Over the weekend, CNN announced that an investigation that had been launched into Chris Cuomo’s history brought to light some new information concerning alleged sexual harassment that involved the anchor himself.
This report is what forced CNN to take the anchor’s temporary suspension and make it a complete termination.
“New details emerged on Sunday about why CNN decided to fire star host Chris Cuomo on Saturday evening as the network conducted an investigation into Cuomo’s role in helping his brother, then-New York Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo, navigate a sexual misconduct scandal,” the report said.
“Debra S. Katz, a left-wing attorney, said in a statement on Sunday that she is representing a client who claims that Chris Cuomo engaged in ‘serious sexual misconduct’ against her at another network,” the report continued.
Cuomo himself rejected the allegation saying, “To the extent that they were sent to CNN to negate what Chris Cuomo told his audience, he fully stands by his on-air statements about his connection to these issues, both professionally and in a profoundly personal way. If the goal in making these false and unvetted accusations was to see Mr. Cuomo punished by CNN, that may explain his unwarranted termination.”
The Journal’s report revealed that an attorney representing Cuomo stated that Zucker was very close with her client and noted the network was very much aware of his attempts to help his brother.
“Mr. Cuomo has the highest level of admiration and respect for Mr. Zucker. They were widely known to be extremely close and in regular contact, including about the details of Mr. Cuomo’s support for his brother. There were no secrets about this, as other individuals besides Mr. Cuomo can attest,” the report stated.
“This is not how I want my time at CNN to end but I have already told you why and how I helped my brother,” Chris Cuomo went on to say in a statement. “So let me now say as disappointing as this is, I could not be more proud of the team at Cuomo Prime Time and the work we did as CNN’s #1 show in the most competitive time slot. I owe them all and will miss that group of special people who did really important work.”
A reporter for The Washington Post tweeted Monday morning that Zucker told his employees on a team call that the law firm that the network had hired to do the initial investigation would be retained to look at the separate misconduct allegation.
“CNN president Jeff Zucker told employees during a call this morning that the network has asked the law firm it worked with to conduct a separate review of the misconduct allegation made against Chris Cuomo. That investigation will continue, as it relates to CNN,” the reported remarked.
NEW — CNN president Jeff Zucker told employees during a call this morning that the network has asked the law firm it worked with to conduct a separate review of the misconduct allegation made against Chris Cuomo. “That investigation will continue, as it relates to CNN,” he said.
— Jeremy Barr (@jeremymbarr) December 6, 2021
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