“Family First, Career Second” — a statement and choice that may have cost Chris Cuomo his place as a top journalist and anchor at CNN.
Effective immediately, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, brother of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, has been suspended from the network indefinitely.
Cuomo has been the host of one of CNN’s most watched evening programs, "Cuomo Prime Time," since 2017. Yet, as of Tuesday, his program is being replaced with a second hour of "Anderson Cooper 360."
Tuesday's announcement about Cuomo’s suspension comes as a bombshell to cable news media. Cuomo has said many times that he is determined to stay on TV this year despite the sexual misconduct allegations against his brother, which resulted in Governor Cuomo’s resignation earlier this year.
New documents released by New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday revealed that the longtime CNN journalist was more closely involved in his brother’s defense than previously believed.
"The New York Attorney General's office released transcripts and exhibits Monday that shed new light on Chris Cuomo's involvement in his brother's defense," a CNN spokesperson said Tuesday evening on CNN. "The documents, which we were not privy to before their public release, raise serious questions."
“These documents point to a greater level of involvement in his brother's efforts than we previously knew," the spokesperson added. "As a result, we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation."
The released documents include text messages between Chris Cuomo and the Former Governor’s Aide, Melissa DeRosa, and suggest he was instrumental in working to craft a defense against a myriad of allegations of sexual misconduct.
The text messages also show that Chris Cuomo sought to use his connections in the media to help prepare his brother’s team as accusers began to make their allegations against the former governor.
At the time of former Governor Cuomo’s resignation, CNN officials acknowledged that Chris Cuomo had spoken to his brother and his brother’s team. However, those interactions had reportedly stopped at the network's request in May.
Chris Cuomo said on air in August, "I never attacked nor encouraged anyone to attack any woman who came forward. I never made calls to the press about my brother's situation.”
The documents released Monday seem to cast some level of doubt on the statements made by both CNN and Cuomo,.
Today’s suspension of Cuomo is being called indefinite and is pending further internal investigation by the outlet.
CNN declined any comment to Timcast regarding the focus and length of the proposed investigation.
