CNN Suspends Chris Cuomo Indefinitely for Advising Brother

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Wed Dec 01, 2021 at 05:05:43 AM EST
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CNN has suspended Chris Cuomo indefinitely, after a report was released this week with thousands of pages from the NYS Attorney General's investigation of sexual harrassment allegations against his brother, Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. CNN released a statement saying it had given him a pass in August when the topic came up, but after the documents were released, it appears he had a greater role advising his brother than previously dislosed.

Chris' 348 page deposition is here. I'm on page 131 and haven't found anything objectionable yet.

I like watching Chris Cuomo. He's comfortable, like a favorite pair of slippers. He's polite to his guests, and he wears his feelings on his sleeve. He doesn't sound phony. Why wouldn't he give his brother the benefit of his thoughts? [More...]

I was glad to see Jeffrey Toobin return to CNN after his embroglio last year, so maybe CNN will decide Cuomo is too popular an anchor to just cut loose. If he needs journalist ethics training, why not give that to him and let him learn on the job?

If I were Chris, I grab some cheap international airline tickets the airlines are passing out as candy this week and take a month long vacation to St. Barts or the Virgin Islands. Sample fare: Denver to Medellin, Colombia is $228 round trip!

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CNN Suspends Chris Cuomo Indefinitely for Advising Brother | 8 comments (8 topical)

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Jeralyn, I'm Deeply Disappointed by Your Reaction (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by hilts on Wed Dec 01, 2021 at 08:27:34 PM EST

Chris Cuomo had a flagrant conflict of interest. He can't have it both ways. If he wants to be an advocate and adviser for his brother, he can't simultaneously pretend to be a neutral, objective journalist.

You should consider finding a new favorite pair of slippers.

If CNN ends up bringing Cuomo back, they'll have no more credibility as a serious news organization.

: Like I said, I'm only on page (none / 0) (#3)
by Jeralyn on Thu Dec 02, 2021 at 06:41:08 AM EST

130 of his deposition, but I don't see anything objectionable yet. It may be in his text messages, I'm not up to them yet. There are over 2,000 pages of documents.
If he didn't contact CNN journalistic sources to plant untrue denials by his brother, I'm not sure what was improper.
How is asking someone if they heard X improper? Is there evidence he offered to quash the stories, as opposed to be able to check them out?

Chris Cuomo may have a loyal audience, but ... (none / 0) (#1)
by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Dec 01, 2021 at 07:14:59 AM EST

... per the Daily Beast, his personal standing with CNN colleagues and staff leaves an awful lot to be desired. Earlier this year, CNN host Jake Tapper told the New York Times that Cuomo had "put us in a bad spot." CNN media reporters Brian Stelter and Oliver Darcy also reported last night that staffers within the network "expressed dismay" over his actions. A CNN insider further summed up staff sentiment: "I don't know anyone who likes him."

So, the knives are definitely out at CNN. Now, speaking for myself only, I don't hear anybody begrudging Chris Cuomo his perfectly understandable desire to advise and assist his brother Andrew during the latter's recent difficulties. After all, family is family, although he probably should have taken a leave of absence from the network to do so.

But if Cuomo abused his prime-time host's position at CNN by using or attempting to use network-related sources and resources in an effort to gather salacious and / or compromising information on his brother's accusers and critics, then he clearly crossed a line ethically and likely violated company policy as well, and he should either resign or be fired.

Aloha.

Did they mention whether (none / 0) (#4)
by Jeralyn on Thu Dec 02, 2021 at 06:44:11 AM EST

Don Lemon is still on his side or has jumped ship?
That's the only real friend I'm aware of he had at CNN.


It doesn't matter anymore. (none / 0) (#5)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Dec 04, 2021 at 08:52:53 PM EST

Per the New York Times tonight, CNN has fired Chris Cuomo.

CNN issued a public statement:

"Chris Cuomo was suspended earlier this week pending further evaluation of new information that came to light about his involvement with his brother's defense. We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately. While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light. Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate."

Aloha.


Personally, I won't miss him (none / 0) (#6)
by MO Blue on Mon Dec 06, 2021 at 09:24:22 AM EST

Didn't like him or his show. Always came across as an arrogant a$$ to me.


: In the it (none / 0) (#7)
by Ga6thDem on Mon Dec 06, 2021 at 05:03:36 PM EST

can always get worse category I read where CNN is thinking about putting Jake Tapper in Cuomo's time slot.

: I never really watched Chris Cuomo. (none / 0) (#8)
by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Dec 10, 2021 at 02:48:04 AM EST

The few times I did, I found myself annoyed by his arguments with his guests. He didn't interview people so much as browbeat them. I'd much rather watch BBC.