The Plot Thickens: Chris Cuomo Faces Scrutiny at CNN

Chris Cuomo

CNN host Chris Cuomo used his position as a journalist to gather information about upcoming accusations of sexual harassment against his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, according to Bloomberg citing new documents released by the New York Attorney General’s office.

Andrew resigned in August following a report by New York Attorney General Letitia James that found he sexually harassed multiple women. Last week the New York Assembly Judiciary Committee, which was conducting a separate probe, released its own report corroborating James’s findings. James has since announced her candidacy for New York governor, presenting a challenge to Kathy Hochul, who took over from Andrew on an interim basis, in a campaign for the Democratic nomination in next year’s race.

“I would -- when asked, I would reach out to sources, other journalists, to see if they had heard of anybody else coming out,” Chris told investigators, according to the documents. CNN said in a statement on Monday it’ll review Chris’s actions over the next several days.
CNN

Melissa DeRosa

Other takeaways from the documents include:

• Chris texted his brother’s top aide, Melissa DeRosa, agreeing to ask sources about rumors of more women coming forward and inquiring about a then-unpublished story by Ronan Farrow in the New Yorker. Chris confirmed to investigators that he spoke with “another journalist” about Farrow’s piece, but said he didn’t directly speak to Farrow.
• Chris asked DeRosa to “please let me help with the prep.” It was previously reported that Chris assisted his brother’s office, having multiple conversations with DeRosa about strategy and crafting press responses.
• The Cuomo administration still used Alphonso David for free legal counsel more than a year after he left the executive chamber to work for the Human Rights Campaign. David departed his position as president of the advocacy group after reports revealed his involvement.
• Top aide Rich Azzopardi stated in his interview with the investigators that the former governor didn’t use email.
• Andrew’s communications team frequently consulted with outside politicos, including Lis Smith, who ran Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign, on how to handle the situation. Azzopardi also said that Chris was also included in some of the strategy response calls.

CNN's Medias host Brian Stelter - writing in a piece published on CNN's own website Monday - said his employer hadn't realized the extent of Chris's involvement in defending his sibling Andrew Cuomo - the former Governor of New York - after Andrew was accused of sexual harassment.