CNN Needs To Fire Chris Cuomo
The idea that Chris Cuomo could remain a fair and objective CNN commentator while his politically ambitious brother, Andrew, was governor never had much credibility. But the material Attorney General Letitia James released this week documenting Chris’ role in his brother’s affairs should remove any doubt: CNN’s decision Tuesday to suspend Chris was a good first step, but it needs to issue him his permanent walking papers.
Even before the ex-gov’s political problems exploded with numerous sexual-harassment allegations against him, Chris Cuomo’s on-air performance was a serious conflict of interest: He’d never said even a slightly critical word about his brother but instead helped boost his image on air during the early days of the pandemic via frequent, often light-hearted interviews.
Chris also admitted, the documents show, serving basically as an unpaid senior adviser to the gov, suggesting ways to handle COVID and even then-President Donald Trump, all while taking up the same topics on CNN. And without disclosing that to viewers (or even, it appears, the network).
Then, when women began accusing Andrew of sexual harassment, Chris joined the group of advisers crafting Cuomo’s defense. At one point, he even drafted a statement for the gov to deliver, dismissing the accusations as “political warfare” and “cancel culture.”
The younger Cuomo also capitalized on his ties as a journalist to dig up intel about what damaging stories were being planned. When Andrew’s top aide, Melissa DeRosa, asked him to check a “rumor” that more women were about to come forward, Chris replied, “On it.”
He also relayed a tip about a woman who told The New York Times that the gov touched her bare back and wanted to kiss her soon after meeting her, adding that she may have been “put up to it.”
Chris continued to defend his brother on-air even as recently as Tuesday: On his Sirius XM radio show, he claimed Andrew was forced to quit because other politicians and the news media were pushing for his ouster.
And when he finally addressed his role in Andrew’s affairs, he minimized it, claiming he acted only as a brother, lending an ear and offering his take.
“I never reported on the scandal,” the TV star said. “And when it happened, I tried to be there for my brother. I’m not an adviser, I’m a brother . . . . I was there to listen.” But his role clearly went further.
No, there’s nothing wrong with trying to help one’s sibling. But Chris Cuomo’s duty as a TV journalist was — at the least —to disclose what he was doing, if not to take a leave of absence.
Instead, he duped viewers, traded on his journalistic ties, joined in attempts to smear accusers and tilted his coverage on camera. CNN can’t just wave this away.