CNN fires Chris Cuomo

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN




New York (CNN) CNN said Saturday that anchor Chris Cuomo has been "terminated" by the network, "effective immediately." The announcement came after an outside law firm was retained to review information about exactly how Cuomo aided his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, when the then-governor was accused of sexual harassment.

CNN said in a 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," CNN's statement added. "Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate."

While the contours of Chris Cuomo's involvement with the governor's office were reported several months ago, the specifics were detailed in a massive document dump on Monday. The documents -- released by New York Attorney General Letitia James after an investigation into the governor -- showed that Chris Cuomo, while working as one of CNN's top anchors, was also effectively working as an unpaid aide to the governor.

The cozy and improper nature of the relationship was conveyed through text messages obtained by James' office. The texts between the anchor and several aides and allies of the governor revealed that Chris Cuomo sought to use his connections in the press to help prepare Andrew Cuomo's team as accusers started to make their stories public.
On the day his brother resigned, back in August, Chris Cuomo told viewers that "this situation is unlike anything I could have imagined."

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/04/media/cnn-fires-chris-cuomo/index.html

[SheltieLover]

1. Surprised they went public with this

Was gov Frankened?

Where's AG James' indictment of tfg? Haven't seen anything in a loooooong time.

[brooklynite]

6. An embarrassing comment, to say the least...

The accusations against Governor Cuomo have been solidly proven, by both the AG and the NYS Assembly’s Justice Committee.

[totodeinhere]

22. Yea, he was not Frankened. And now his brother Chris is reaping what he sowed.

[SheltieLover]

31. Thx!

I didn't have time to follow the story.

I was surprised they aired this publicly, as most companies do not disclose personnel discipline publicly.

[Doodley]

53. Proven guilty? Really?

[brooklynite]

57. PROVE (verb): demonstrate the truth or existence of (something) by evidence or argument

Doesn’t require a Court case.

Buy I suppose Cuomo could demand one, right?

[pnwmom]

21. Why are you comparing this to an indictment? Neither Cuomo was indicted.

Indictments for white collar crimes like Trump engaged in take a long time.

[SheltieLover]

29. Not comparing

Just asking if anyone else has seen anything in the news.

[wnylib]

50. Former Governor Cuomo has been formally charged

with a sex crime and will appear in court next month.

The investigation and complaints do indicate inappropriate behavior, but AG Letitia James might have been motivated by ambition as much as by the law. She is now a Dem candidate for next year's NY gubernatorial race as a challenger to incumbent Kathy Hochul.

[pnwmom]

63. She was motivated by the law. You don't have to search for other reasons

to blame her, just because she is an ambitious woman.

[wnylib]

64. Nothing wrong with ambition.

In clearing a path for herself she also gets to say that she brought down a bad guy.

[pnwmom]

65. She is doing her job, prosecuting someone who has been accused of multiple assaults against women.

But because she is a woman who might run for Governor some day, you're casting aspersions on her.

If she had chosen NOT to prosecute him, others would have attributed that to her political ambition (not wishing to alienate his millions of supporters.)

An ambitious woman will be criticized no matter what she does.

[wnylib]

70. As a woman myself, I have nothing against

ambitious women. I am retired now, but in my working years I sometimes faced criticism for having goals beyond what was expected for a woman. Dealt with sexual harrassment, too, as most women do, so I have no sympathy for the problems that Cuomo created for himself.

I supported Hillary Clinton as my NY Senator. I was fortunate enough to briefly meet and talk with her at a Dem rally during her NY Senate campaign. Defended her against criticisms of her ambition. Supported her presidential campaign, too.

There is no maybe about AG James running for governor. She has publicly declared her candidacy for the Dem primaries. She did her job very thoroughly investigating Cuomo, as she had to do in her position as AG. But when she announced her candidacy a few months later, she reopened herself to speculation about having personal as well as professional reasons for taking on Cuomo. I am not in any way suggesting that she shouldn't have. But those speculations were around before she announced her candidacy. There is a faction of NY Dems who wanted Cuomo out, each for their own reasons. His own behavior gave them the legitimate legal means to remove him.

Kathy Hochul is doing a good job. She is attentive, responsive to the people, and experienced. As a western New Yorker, she can bring in the upstate vote. James has not had legislative experience. I think that she could be a good governor with more experience in government beyond the AG position. If not in the legislature, perhaps as Lieutenant Governor.

[hamsterjill]

33. Too many hear LOVE to see someone fall.

AG James is too busy putting her campaign for Governor together to worry about Trump these days. She has been a total disappointment to me.

Cuomo did what Cuomo did. But you will never convince me that there’s not some undercurrent of someone out there wanting to hurt him. Too many times stories were told and retold before they got the desired effect.

Sorry if some (or many) here disagree with me. That’s my opinion. And before I get the obligatory reply about “the victims”, no I do not condone sexual harassment.

[SheltieLover]

36. I certainly don't condone it either.

I hadn't had time to follow the story, so I wasn't sure.

Strange the way stories about prosecuting tfg just dry up.

Thx, Jill.

[Doodley]

56. Seconded.

[Polybius]

59. *Here

n/t

[brooklynite]

72. "AG James is too busy putting her campaign for Governor together to worry about Trump these days"

Assertions without evidence are always the easiest to make.

How long SHOULD it take to achieve an indictment that will result in a conviction?

[hamsterjill]

74. The length of time is getting absurd.

Nothing is happening. Do you, with all of your “insider” information, have any facts that differ? Since you are so against “assertions”? If so, please share with all of the rest of us.

We are going to sit and wait and it’s going to be time for the midterms and the Dems aren’t going to want to make Trump the subject of their campaigns, so nothing will be done. Then, if we lose seats, it’s over. Trump’s MO is and always has been to run out the clock. He’s counting on Dems waiting to gather evidence. How much more time do they need?

All I heard about on DU for the last two years of Trump’s presidency was that the SDNY was going to “get” him when no one else could. So that process has been unfolding for a long time. How much longer before something - ANYTHING - happens? There’s been plenty of time. Letecia James has been an utter disappointment and is concerned with her own political future instead of doing her job. You act like nothing could have already have been in process before Trump left office. That’s not true. Evidence should have been collected and ready to be filed the day Biden took office.

[brooklynite]

77. I have political contacts...

I don't have criminal justice contacts.

What I DO understand is that prosecutors don't share the results of their investigations until they're ready to submit them to a Grand Jury. Despite what the blogosphere demands.

Right now, Trump hasn't been indicted by the FEDERAL AG, the STATE AG or the City DA. Your choices are:

1) a massive conspiracy by ALL THREE agencies, and all of their staffs to intentionally not indict him.

2) a lack of actual evidence to obtain an indictment.

3) an ongoing process which hasn't finished yet.

[hamsterjill]

80. So, I guess it's #2 then

Dems can’t make a case against Trump. I guess he’s just too smart, too savvy and too well connected and protected. By Putin or whoever.

Dems just don’t have the evidence, right? I mean the evidence is presented on a daily basis by the media, but Dems can’t take the chance of charging Trump and failing, right? So we sit on our asses and do nothing and the clock runs out.

They won’t even try! And that, my dear well connected politically friend is, if you are who you say you are, what you should be telling your contacts. That is what most of us are sick to death of - the fact that Dems won’t even try to go after Trump.

[brooklynite]

84. So we should indict based on newspaper stories...

Perhaps the prosecutor could handle news clippings to the Jury and then rest their case?

[hamsterjill]

85. No.

But Democrats should do something instead of nothing.

[brooklynite]

86. And you know that they're doing "nothing" because......

[hamsterjill]

87. Because Trump nor any of his cronies have been indicted

And there has been plenty of time for that to happen.

You know no more than I do unless you have facts that indicate an indictment is forthcoming.

[brooklynite]

88. My wife is a former Federal Prosecutor...

I know something about how long it takes to prepare a criminal indictment that’s less complex.

[hamsterjill]

89. I know. You flaunt that fact around here constantly.

It means nothing in this situation. If you know something, share it; otherwise, your information is no better than anyone else’s here.

Trump is free as a bird and nothing is being done to stop him. People, like me, find that incredible. If you don’t agree, that’s your right.

But when he runs again in 2024, please don’t act surprised when nothing has been done to stop him.

I suffered four long years with that jerk in the White House and I don’t relish a repeat of that. The only way to stop that possibility is for him to be put away. Time is of the essence. I don’t know why people keep excusing the fact that he’s not been charged. What do you think? That he’s magically going to disappear and we will be rid of him?

He’s a threat to our very way of life. We are already running out of time.

But hey, if you’re okay with that, then you go ahead and feel good about it. I’ll continue to be concerned. Conversation over.

[brooklynite]

90. Yes, my information is no better than anyone else's....

...but I don't go about conjuring up conspiracy theories for everything I'm unhappy about.

[DeeDeeNY]

82. Your last sentence is right on target

The grand jury in NY expired last month so a new one had to be selected. They already issued indictments to two officers of the Trump Organization but nothing yet to Trump or his kids.

[cadoman]

83. investigation of tfg equals awesome fundraising

I think we do have to be aware that politicians know what issues sell, and will happily sell them even if they're not a working "product", so to speak. Look how tfg sold a worthless fucking border wall that Mexico never paid for.

I also believe Cuomo could be innocent, and it's possible to believe that while allowing his alleged victims to have their story heard, but the fact that he stepped down indicates he isn't on solid footing.

[Upward]

91. Yes. MASSIVE Fishing Expedition to Get Women to Come Forward

And I'm willing to bet 65% of the male population in this country would be equally compromised.

Meanwhile, there's a major pig on SCOTUS

[hamsterjill]

92. Thank you.

Sexual harassment is not right and should not be tolerated, but as you indicate, I would agree that put under a microscope and investigated fully, there are a lot of men out there, particularly of that age group, who could be made to appear guilty.

It is of interest to me that one of Andrew Cuomo’s victims is/was a state trooper herself. If she cannot keep someone from assaulting her, I would question her ability to protect others who might be in the same situation. I’m not victim shaming; just stating fact and my opinion of the facts. One would think a competent state trooper could have said “stop” and mean it.

[Larissa]

2. Wow

The hot potato has been dropped.

[Quakerfriend]

3. Despite what the Cuomo brothers have done,

I think it’s despicable that Tish James is behind all this as she plots her path to the governorship.

What ever happened to bringing charges against Trump??

[dem4decades]

5. Are you saying the Governor wasn't a creep to women?

[SoCalDavidS]

8. Pointing Out That Some Are Above The Law

I, for one, NEVER expected TFG to be charged with so much as jaywalking.

[dem4decades]

11. Yeah, those thinking Trump will see jail are delusional, he hasn't even been questioned

Under Oath, and I doubt he ever will.

[brooklynite]

7. Perhaps you could undertake a citizen's arrest, since the charges are so obvious?

[SoCalDavidS]

9. Some Here Thought Gaetz Was Being Arrested Back In April

Not me, but some here did.

[pnwmom]

14. What Letitia James is doing is HER JOB. This has nothing to do with Trump. n/t

[tishaLA]

19. Gov Cuomo asked AG James to do the investigation

She she have said no?

[totodeinhere]

25. I think that the State of NY people are waiting to see what the US Justice Department

does first. There is no hurry in this matter. I would rather see them be very meticulous in their investigations even if that means taking more time. We want to make sure that this case is a slam dunk. And the statute of imitations is a long way off. I think the only way he gets off is if he can steal the election again in 2024. So we have to make sure that doesn't happen.

[BradAllison]

58. "There is no hurry in this matter"

Uhhh, really?

Is January 2025 still cool?

[hamsterjill]

35. I totally agree with your assessment.

n/t

[question everything]

4. Now get Brian Williams to take his spot

[tishaLA]

20. My guess is that he's joining the new streaming CNN outlet

I think it's going to be called CNN+--that's what they hired Kasie Hunt away from MSNBC/NBC for and they're dedicating a lot of resources into it. Mr Williams can be the "face of the service" and lead their breaking news coverage in addition to a regular show in a better time slot.

[JI7]

40. Williams would be a lot better than Kasie Hunt

[Lunabell]

10. Good.

Two peas in a pod. We have to stop protecting predators for political gain.

[True Dough]

41. I can't muster an iota of sympathy

for either of them either!

[rickford66]

12. Meanwhile ... at FOX, anything goes.

CNN did the right thing.

[msongs]

13. doesn't this belong in the entertainment forum instead of lbn nt

[iemanja]

16. Why? Suddenly news stations aren't news?

[pnwmom]

23. Are you saying CNN is not a news station? nt

[msongs]

67. megawad corporations fire people everyday, its not news nt

[pnwmom]

68. When a major newscaster is fired for breaching journalistic ethics, it's important news. n/t

[Shermann]

15. It's a shame

It's admirable that Chris put family ahead of his profession. But he signed an employment contract and breeching those can come at a cost. Andrew is well-off and has access to legal counsel on his own, so it seems an unnecessary sacrifice.

Cuomo Prime Time was on a bit late for me, but I'd catch a few minutes here and there. Chris is legit.

[JudyM]

62. Betting he'll regret it the rest of his professional life.

He could’ve insisted on staying on this side of the ethical line.

As for Andrew, lousy brother to get your brother get so caught up in your own scandal to jeopardize his career.

And if Andrew lied to Chris about the extent of the problem, he’s even more of an ass.

[Random Boomer]

75. No, it's NOT "admirable"

Chris Cuomo put family above journalistic ethics, against women's right to safety in the workplace and skirted putting his family before the law. That's the kind of values you'd hear from a mafia mobster.

The way you help family is to persuade them to do the right thing, even if that means turning themselves in.

[Sherman A1]

17. Surprising to me that CNN did such a thing.

Almost if the organization might have some integrity, but I am sure that is not the case.

[LenaBaby61]

27. Almost if the organization might have some integrity.

Not that I watch CNN, but they hired Michael Smerconish 😆

[Sherman A1]

32. I guess that whoever Michael Smerconish is means something

To some folks but I don’t keep up on the Drama TV noise who’s who.

[Zorro]

18. There's an opening coming up at MSNBC

[walkingman]

34. I hope he goes there

[pnwmom]

44. I don't. MSNBC doesn't need someone with his lack of journalistic ethics.

Yes, he could help his brother. But he should have not been reporting any story about his brother. He should have excused himself.

[thesquanderer]

78. He did excuse himself from reporting on the scandal.

The issue isn't what he was or wasn't reporting on publically, it's how he was aiding his brother behind the scenes (using his sources, etc.).

[pnwmom]

79. You're right -- with regard to explicit reporting on the scandal. But he used his news show

to give his brother positive attention from his audience. Remember all those buddy-buddy comedy routines?

And he used his professional contacts to ferret out information for his brother-- and lied bout that to his audience in August.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/01/chris-cuomo-cnn-routine-brother-undermined-network

According to evidence made public from the New York attorney general’s investigation into Andrew Cuomo’s workplace misconduct, Chris Cuomo used his position as a journalist to ferret out information to help his brother, such as how far along Ronan Farrow was with his first story about the governor. Top gubernatorial aide Melissa de Rosa told the investigation that Chris Cuomo frequently initiated contact with her, and text messages show him pleading “please let me help with the prep” on 3 March and offering “I have a lead on the wedding girl being put up to it” the following day.

SNIP

The evidence suggests that Chris Cuomo was dishonest in August when he said during his show, “I never made calls to the press about my brother’s situation.”

SNIP

During the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the network allowed Chris not just to cover his brother, but air buddy-comedy style entertainment segments which bolstered his public image. In one, the pair jostled about who was the better looking or had the biggest nose (with Chris at one point bringing out a giant prop cotton swab suggesting his brother would need it).

SNIP

The dozen or so episodes with his brother served as free press for the governor’s million-dollar book deal about how he handled the crisis. Still, Chris Cuomo argued that he was simply acting as a concerned and loving brother, as anyone might, and many seemed sympathetic to that argument.

[samnsara]

24. im sorry this all had to happen.. i enjoyed him

[marieo1]

26. Wrong!!!

My question is: How can Chris Cuomo get terminated and not DJT? I don't get it. DJT has done so much that is improper, unlawful, indecent, immoral, illegal and just plain sinful and yet CNN publicizes every single word out of DJT's mouth. Talk about double standards!!!

[DanieRains]

30. TFG Didn't Work For CNN

I could stand watching Cuomo, but he treated Republicans like they weren't lying evil hpocrites.

[pnwmom]

46. CNN doesn't employ DJT, how about that? There is no double standard here.

Cuomo broke a basic journalistic rule, and he deserved to have been fired.

[relayerbob]

28. Liked him, but VERY stupid

And then apparently lying to his bosses. At least some people are held accountable.

[Beastly Boy]

37. Sad. Chris Cuomo did an admirable thing: he put his family before his job.

But as a price for loyalty to his family, he had to sacrifice his integrity. That's not too admirable. He made his choice, which I think is a right one. He knew he would pay the price, which includes his job and his reputation. A price that he decided is worth paying.

I don't think he would regret it.

[spooky3]

48. I don't think breaking professional ethics is admirable.

Would you admire someone who embezzled money and lied about it to help his brother pay legal bills, for example?

If he wanted to help his brother, he should have stayed within the bounds of professional ethics, or resigned and NOT used his CNN contacts to help a sexual harasser.

[Beastly Boy]

51. That's exactly what I said in my post. But neither is breaking family ties

Chris Cuomo had to choose. He chose family bonds, the way he understands them, over professional ethics. I can easily imagine someone else making a different decision. It wasn't an easy choice, and now he will probably have to abandon his profession. Cuomo decided it beats abandoning family.

And I would certainly not admire someone who abandons family.

[TexasBushwhacker]

54. If Andrew asked for Chris's help, shame on him

Assuming that's how things went down, he forced Chris to make an impossible choice.

[paleotn]

55. Then you wouldn't admire me or my family....

I was taught from a young age that personal honor and integrity are first and foremost. If I were to get in a major stink, mom, dad and the rest still love me, but I'm expected to man up and face the consequences of my own actions. But then again, I get your point. Very tough decision.

[Beastly Boy]

71. You may have gotten your lesson wrong.

There is a difference between personal honor and integrity and professional integrity. And with all due respect to your view, you might inquire with your teachers whether personal honor and integrity with respect to your family supercedes that of your professional integrity.

I assure you, chances are I admire your family more than you give me credit for.

[spooky3]

61. No, that's not what you said. He had other choices

Besides what he did, and refusing to help his brother.

[Beastly Boy]

73. No, that's exactly what I said.

The first two sentences from my post:

But as a price for loyalty to his family, he had to sacrifice his integrity. That's not too admirable.

How can you possibly take the second sentence as not saying that I find sacrificing one's integrity not too admirable?

As far as Cuomo's other choices, it was his decision that they were not as admirable as helping his brother. It goes without saying that you may disagree with his judgement as to what is more or less admirable, just as I may agree with it, but regardless of our respective opinions, the decision was his to make.

[Polybius]

60. Depends who's idea it was

Maybe it was Chris'. If it were Andrew's, then I agree.

[FakeNoose]

69. I hear they have a new startup - the Cuomo Brothers Employment Agency

[Etherealoc1]

39. I sure would like them to go after TFG

like this. Whatever happened to all
of the so called incriminating documents.

He's still out there selling hotels and
raking in the millions.

SMH

[Jakes Progress]

42. This kind of thing gets you promoted at Faux.

[jeaps]

43. I'm confused...

Chris Cuomo helped his brother. Okay, not good and there may be a conflict of interest. But, how is this different from Sean Hannity advising the orange one? I recall hearing about nightly phone calls between the two working on media strategies.

[pnwmom]

47. Are you saying that CNN and MSNBC should descend to the level of Fox? So there would be

no network anyone should trust?

[spooky3]

49. +1

[paleotn]

52. Hannity doesn't work for CNN.

Fox has zero integrity. Thus, no firing for Hannity. CNN did the right thing. I don't know what they teach their children in the Cuomo family, but I was taught that honor and integrity come first and foremost. You do something wrong, you face the music. Sorry, brother, but I'm not going to sacrifice my own integrity and use my position to try and get you out of a stink you got yourself into. Man up and face the music.

[LittleGirl]

45. CNN did the right thing.

Chris crossed the line and lied. Just like his brother.
They both will be fine.

[SouthBayDem]

66. Saturday night news dump.

Normally, bad news is dumped on Friday nights - but SATURDAY? That is a new one.

Chris Cuomo is a trained attorney (not sure if he's still licensed) - so he ought to understand the concept of "appearance of impropriety". From the story:

He pointed out that he never reported on the sexual harassment scandal or tried to interfere in CNN's coverage. And he acknowledged that he "tried to be there for my brother" when the scandal erupted.

Assuming that is all true - as a representative of a mainstream news network he still should have avoided doing anything that could be reasonably PERCEIVED as unethical!

This quote really got him in trouble based on what the new documents revealed:

"I'm not an adviser. I'm a brother. I wasn't in control of anything. I was there to listen and offer my take," he said.

I personally avoid cable news (preferring the BBC and NPR instead - higher quality for less cost) but have enjoyed some Cuomo clips, like this classic vs. Rudy Giuliani during the 2019 Ukraine/Trump scandal:

[Bengus81]

76. Bet MSNBC hires him,hope they do.......

[hamsterjill]

81. Me, too.

I’m sure that Cuomo won’t starve without a job, but I liked his show and would like to see him continue. Those who don’t like him shouldn’t watch.