This shouldn’t be news to anyone who paid a lick of attention during the Andrew Cuomo scandal, but brother and CNN prime time anchor Chris Cuomo was very involved in running media cover for his brother, the disgraced former Governor of New York.
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was more extensively involved in helping to defend his brother, then-New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, against allegations of sexual misconduct than he has previously acknowledged, according to documents released Monday by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Text messages between the CNN journalist and top Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa show that Chris Cuomo offered to draft statements for his brother to use to deny misconduct, demanded more influence over the strategy, and even researched potential news coverage and accusers for the governor’s office.
“Please let me help with the prep,” Cuomo wrote at one point to DeRosa, as the claims against the governor surfaced earlier this year.
On another occasion, the younger Cuomo texted DeRosa that he needed “all the best facts” for “reporters. Who can do it?”
Chris Cuomo also appeared to use his journalistic connections to gather information for the governor’s team. He fielded requests from DeRosa for “intel” on a then-unpublished investigative story by New Yorker writer Ronan Farrow and information about a rumor that more accusers were about to come forward on March 7.
“On it,” Cuomo responded to the second request. About 40 minutes later, he wrote back, “No one has heard that yet.”
The messages deepen questions about whether Chris Cuomo, one of CNN’s star anchors, crossed lines in his advocacy for his brother and misused his position as a prominent cable television anchor.
Chris Cuomo did not immediately respond to requests for comment. He appeared as scheduled on his show Monday night and did not address the allegations. Cuomo told investigators that he was frequently in touch with other journalists to learn what they had heard about the claims but said he was not a “substantive player” in the strategy discussions and did not share information with other reporters on behalf of the governor.
“I didn’t have a role on the team. I’m not on his team,” the CNN anchor said, according to transcripts released by James’s office. “I’m his brother and I’m a Cuomo.”
In a statement, CNN said, “The thousands of pages of additional transcripts and exhibits that were released today by the NY Attorney General deserve a thorough review and consideration. We will be having conversations and seeking additional clarity about their significance as they relate to CNN over the next several days.”
The Washington Post reported earlier this year that the younger Cuomo had participated in strategy sessions with the governor and his aides as Andrew M. Cuomo (D) was fielding mounting complaints about inappropriate comments and physical contact.
The CNN anchor has also acknowledged at the time that he had assisted the governor’s office with advice about how to handle the pandemic.
Time for him to retire as well.
Talk about white male privilege playing out.Report
Certainly elite privilege.Report
On what basis does an Attorney General release communications between an accused person’s staff and the press? Are there any allegations of criminal activity by Chris Cuomo?Report
Looking closely at the story, I’m not seeing Cuomo getting any charges from the AG…
So, no, I don’t think there are any allegations of criminal activity. If I wanted to come up with something, I’d probably guess that it was “conspiracy to X” for a handful of Xes… The obstruction of the sexual harassment lawsuits, probably.
I’d say that this might be a grand opportunity for a *CIVIL*, rather than criminal, case on the part of a handful of people and I could see how CNN would be named in the suit (and those are some deeeeep pockets).Report
I don’t know the laws or propriety in something like this. But fair’s fair, even if it means being fair to the Cuomo boys. And if we want good government and media, I’ve got to question what seems like a politically-motivated info dump being spread around the media.Report
I’m not seeing why they were released. If it was FOIA, it’s one thing. If it’s just someone whose great aunt died in one of the homes, it’s another.Report
Civil suits? By whom? Against whom? For what?Report
The victims of Cuomo’s sexual harassment. I could see CNN being brought into the complaint for stuff like, copying and pasting this:
Chris Cuomo also appeared to use his journalistic connections to gather information for the governor’s team. He fielded requests from DeRosa for “intel” on a then-unpublished investigative story by New Yorker writer Ronan Farrow and information about a rumor that more accusers were about to come forward on March 7.
I could easily see the “more accusers” bringing this up in their suit against Cuomo.Report
Yes, Andy can certainly be sued. Don’t see anything else.Report
Well, I am not a lawyer, so I’ll take your word for it.
But if I were on a civil jury and the plaintiff argued that CNN colluded with Cuomo against them and needed to pay damages, I’d probably need to hear arguments for why CNN shouldn’t be a party before concluding that CNN shouldn’t be a party.
I mean, assuming that the original story was true, of course.Report
Juries don’t decide who gets to be a party. They’re even instructed not to think about it if there’s any reason to think they might. (As in the Elizabeth Holmes case.)Report
DAs/police release all kinds information about persons of interest that has no bearing on an active case. Sometimes it’s to apply pressure , sometimes I swear it’s just to mess with someone because they couldn’t make a case.
So while I agree with you that they shouldn’t, the fact is no one really seems to think it’s a problem except the people getting hurt by it.Report
Suspended indefinitely.
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Excellent.Report
It’s the right thing to do.Report
Good for them.Report
“A greater involvement in his brother’s efforts than we previously knew”
It isn’t the crime, it’s the cover-up.Report
An uncomfortable truth:
That said, there are things that publicly must say we cannot abide even though, privately, we understand what happened.
Chris now gets the consequences of his loyalty to his brother.Report
It’s all good.
We respect loyalty to family. It’s understandable.
Modern society is, fundamentally, built on the understanding/requirement that putting your highest loyalty to your family/clan on certain matters is not what is best for society.
Chris will face consequences for his naked nepotism. That’s fine. A high profile, fiscally generous and influential position in media is entitled to no one. He’ll have to make do without it.
That’s all fine.Report
An even more uncomfortable truth:
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A conspiracy theory that I had not considered:
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I suspect a LOT of famous people will be implicated in the trial, including at least 2 former presidents.Report
Chris Cuomo wasn’t fired on the 30th; he was fired today.Report
And he’s fired.
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TSN post up on thatReport