Chris Cuomo has been fired by CNN. The anchor’s tenure at the network comes to an end only days after the company announced that it had suspended Cuomo from the company.
CNN is continuing an ongoing investigation into disclosures that Cuomo provided assistance for his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, after his sibling was faced with multiple accusations of sexual harassment.
“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,” reads a statement shared on CNN Communications’ official Twitter. “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,” the statement concludes.
Cuomo released a statement following the announcement of his termination.
“This is not how I want my time at CNN to end but I have already told you why and how I helped my brother,” Cuomo wrote in a statement on his official Twitter. “So let me now say as disappointing as this is, I could not be more proud of the team at Cuomo Prime Time and the work we did as CNN’s #1 show in the most competitive time slot. I owe them all and will miss that group of special people who did really important work.”
On Tuesday, CNN announced that it was suspending Cuomo “indefinitely, pending further evaluation,” as it reviewed his actions. A passel of messages and communications released by the Attorney General revealed that Chris Cuomo was actively involved in tracking down leads about stories that might affect his brother’s political status. Cuomo also spoke regularly with his brother’s senior staffers during this period. The former news anchor has acknowledged an error in judgment on this matter, but has sated that he felt compelled by family ties.
(Excerpt) Read more in: Variety