'I made a mistake': CNN's Chris Cuomo admits he 'crossed the line' taking part in official calls advising brother Andrew during his sex-pest scandal after network bosses said it was 'inappropriate'
CNN host Chris Cuomo says he is 'truly sorry' for taking part in strategy calls advising his brother Gov. Andrew Cuomo through his sex-pest scandal - adding that he compromised his colleagues at the network.
His public comment comes after he was thrown to the wolves by CNN bosses after it was revealed he'd been privately coaching his governor brother through an ongoing sex scandal.
'If you would allow me a moment, if you will remember, I told you back in the beginning of March that I can’t cover my brother’s troubles. It wouldn’t be fair. And you got it then, and I appreciate you understanding,' Cuomo said on Thursday.
'Now today, there are stories out there about me offering my brother advice. Of course I do, this is no revelation. I’ve said it publicly and I’ve certainly never hidden it. I can be objective about just about any topic – but not about my family.
'Those of you who watch this show get it. Like you, I bet, my family means everything to me and I am fiercely loyal to them. I am family-first, job-second.'
CNN host Chris Cuomo said he is 'truly sorry' and admits he crossed the line taking part in strategy calls advising his brother Gov. Andrew Cuomo through his sex-pest scandal
At least nine women have accused Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior, which Chris Cuomo admits he helps coach his brother through
Cuomo said that being a journalist and a brother to a politician comes with unique challenges and a 'responsibility to balance those roles.'
'It’s not always easy. People can say and write what they want but I want you to know the truth. How I helped my brother also matters,' Cuomo said.
He said that when his brother's situation 'became turbulent' he started getting 'looped into calls with other friends of his and advisers that did include some of his staff.'
'I understand why that was a problem for CNN. It will not happen again. It was a mistake because I put my colleagues here, who I believe are the best in the business, in a bad spot. I never intended for that. I would never intend for that and I am sorry for that,' he said.
Cuomo added that has never tried to influence CNN's coverage of his brother and has in fact 'been walled off from it.'
'This is a unique and difficult situation, and that’s okay. I know where the line is. I can respect it and still be there for my family, which I must. I have to do that,' he said.
'I love my brother. I love my family. I love my job, and I love and respect my colleagues here at CNN. And again, to them I am truly sorry.'
A spokesman for the network admitted his behavior was 'inappropriate', after it was revealed Chris had been advising New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his taxpayer-funded staffers on how to weather sexual harassment claims.
CNN added that Chris Cuomo would not face punishment - but it allowed unnamed staff members to stick the knife into him in its own report on the gaffe.
That story pointedly said: 'The revelation that Cuomo had advised his brother vexed staffers inside CNN. Multiple CNN staffers said they were bothered by Cuomo's conduct and the violation of traditional journalistic standards.
'Journalists typically do not engage in politics so that they can cover the news in an impartial manner.'
Chris Cuomo reportedly told his brother to take a stand against 'cancel culture' after the first of nine women to make sexual harassment allegations against his older sibling emerged in December 2020.
CNN host Chris Cuomo (right) took part in strategy sessions with his bother, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (left) and his staff, raising ethical concerns
Andrew Cuomo is seen on a call in March, as the allegations against him piled up. His brother took part in strategy calls and urged him not to give into 'cancel culture'
The TV host also advised taxpayer-funded New York state officials on how to help his sibling weather the storm.
Cable news anchor Chris encouraged his brother to take a defiant position and not resign from the governor's office, according to people who listened to the calls told the Washington Post.
He did so despite publicly claiming it would be inappropriate to report on the same sex pest scandal on his nightly show.
Chris Cuomo and CNN now face fresh hypocrisy allegations after granting Governor Cuomo hours of positive coverage and simpering interviews during the early days of the COVID-19 crisis last year.
Chris would regularly interview his brother and heap praise on him for the Empire State's handling of the pandemic - despite claims their close family ties made such coverage unprofessional and inappropriate.
Commenting on the coaching scandal, a CNN spokesman said: 'Chris has not been involved in CNN's extensive coverage of the allegations against Governor Cuomo — on air or behind the scenes.'
'In part because, as he has said on his show, he could never be objective. But also because he often serves as a sounding board for his brother.'
'However, it was inappropriate to engage in conversations that included members of the Governor's staff, which Chris acknowledges,' the statement added. 'He will not participate in such conversations going forward.'
The conference calls took place earlier this year, with a total of nine women accusing the Democratic governor of making inappropriate remarks, lewd suggestions, or unwanted physical contact.
Chris Cuomo remained notably silent on the air as the scandal unfolded, and was similarly quiet over a parallel outrage his brother's handling of pandemic deaths in nursing homes.
'Obviously, I am aware of what is going on with my brother,' he finally told viewers on March 1, as the allegations piled up.
The governor made numerous appearances on his own brother's show last year, for lighthearted interviews that featured brotherly banter
'And obviously I cannot cover it because he is my brother. Now, of course CNN has to cover it. They have covered it extensively and they will continue to do so. I have always cared very deeply about these issues, and profoundly so. I just want to tell you that,' he said.
No such coverage ban was in place last year, when Andrew Cuomo was at the height of his popularity leading the COVID response in New York.
The governor made numerous appearances on his own brother's show, for lighthearted interviews that featured brotherly banter.
Sources tell the Post that Chris and Andrew, who are 13 years apart in age, are very close, and that the CNN host is among the handful of people whom the governor trusts for advice.
Favors in the family extend both ways, and Andrew Cuomo came in for criticism after it emerged that he had ordered state health officials to rush to his brother's Long Island home to test him for COVID last March.
The Wall Street Journal reported late in March that the New York state attorney general's office had subpoenaed dozens of officials in Governor Cuomo's administration as part of the probe into sexual harassment accusations.
Cuomo has repeatedly denied these claims, and rejected calls for his resignation from fellow Democrats, including New York's two U.S. senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
He has asked New Yorkers to await the results of State Attorney General Letitia James investigation into the claims.
