CNN Suspends Anchor Cuomo For Helping Brother Facing Sexual Harassment Charges
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – The U.S. Cable News Network (CNN) suspended one of its top anchors Tuesday for helping his brother and ex-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo face charges of sexual harassment.
CNN said it “indefinitely suspended” anchor Chris Cuomo as documents released by New York’s attorney general indicated he took a greater level of involvement in his brother’s efforts than previously thought.
“As a result, we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation,” the network said.
The 52-year-old CNN anchor allegedly pressed sources for information on his brother’s accusers and reported to the governor’s staff.
He was also active in helping craft their response to the charges, according to emails and a transcript of his testimony to investigators working for state Attorney General Letitia James. Her office found Andrew Cuomo sexually harassing at least 11 women.
Chris Cuomo previously acknowledged talking to his brother and offer advice when the governor faced harassment charges.
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But the information released Monday revealed far more details about what exactly Chris Cuomo did. Andrew Cuomo resigned in August to avoid a likely impeachment trial.
The suspension came after significant criticism from people who noted that Cuomo had “violated widely accepted journalistic norms.”
Inside CNN, staffers reportedly expressed dismay about the anchor’s conduct. Charlotte Bennett, a former aide to Andrew Cuomo who came forward in February to accuse him of sexual harassment, called for CNN to “immediately take action.”
“Anything short of firing Chris Cuomo reflects a network lacking both morals and a backbone,” Bennett wrote on social networking site Twitter.
Cuomo’s program, which airs at 9 p.m. Eastern time on weeknights, averaged 1.3 million viewers, narrowly outpacing Anderson Cooper as CNN’s most popular show, according to the Nielsen research company.
“A second hour of “Anderson Cooper 360” will air in Cuomo’s place on Tuesday night,” CNN said. As several cable newscasts, viewership was down significantly compared to the previous election year, research slowed.
The benched anchorman declined to comment to reporters, but an emotional Chris Cuomo met with the show’s staff, CNN said.
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