CNN fired Chris Cuomo Saturday amid concerns over his efforts to help his brother dodge sexual harassment allegations and a complaint of sexual misconduct against him.
The anchor had been suspended Tuesday after information released by the New York State Office of the Attorney General showed him to be a very active player in former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomoâs efforts to stave off allegations of sexual harassment.
On Saturday, CNN fired him.
âBased on the report we received regarding Chrisâs conduct with his brotherâs defense, we had cause to terminate. When new allegations came to us this week, we took them seriously and saw no reason to delay taking immediate action,â CNN said in a statement, according to The New York Times.
CNN was informed Wednesday by attorney Debra Katz that she was representing an individual who made an allegation of sexual misconduct against Chris Cuomo.
Katz said Saturday the allegation against Cuomo was made by a former junior colleague at another network and was not related to Chris Cuomoâs efforts to save the political career of his brother.
Katz explained her client âcame forward because she was disgusted by Chris Cuomoâs on-air statements in response to the allegations made against his brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo.â
Katz cited Chris Cuomoâs comments on a March 1 show in which he said, Â âI have always cared very deeply about these issues, and profoundly so. I just wanted to tell you that.â
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âThese apparently anonymous allegations are not true,â said Steven Goldberg, a spokesman for Chris Cuomo,
Cuomoâs spokesman said he âfully 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.â
Earlier Saturday, CNN explained it âretained a respected law firm to conduct a reviewâ of Chris Cuomoâs links to his brotherâs political squad.
âWhile in the process of that review, additional information has come to light,â CNN said. âDespite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate.â
âThis is not how I want my time at CNN to end, but I have already told you why and how I helped my brother,â Chris Cuomo said in a statement. âSo 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 CNNâs #1 show in the most competitive time slot.â
In a September op-ed in The New York Times, former ABC News producer Shelley Ross said Chris Cuomo grabbed her buttocks at a 2005 party.
According to Ross, she wrote it because as of that time Chris Cuomo had âescaped accountabilityâ for both his conduct then and while advising his brother.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
