CNN has fired embattled anchor Chris Cuomo after initially placing him on an indefinite suspension.
The network made the announcement after “additional information” reportedly emerged during an investigation resulting from newly released documents that indicated how involved the ex-anchor reportedly was in attempting to protect his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) from scandals — including allegations of sexual harassment.
What are the details?
A spokesperson for CNN on Saturday evening said that Cuomo has been “terminated” by the network, “effective immediately.”
“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,” the statement read. “We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately.”
In a tweeted statement on his termination, Cuomo wrote, “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. 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, the network announced an “indefinite suspension” following newly released testimony from the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
The documents showed that Cuomo appeared to have worked tirelessly alongside his brother’s handlers in order to keep bad publicity at bay, including leaning on media sources who reported on the allegations against his brother.
“When Chris admitted to us that he had offered advice to his brother’s staff, he broke our rules and we acknowledged that publicly,” the network said in a statement on his suspension. “But we also appreciated the unique position he was in and understood his need to put family first and job second.”
“However,” the network continued in its statement, “these documents point to a greater level of involvement in his brother’s efforts than we previously knew. As a result, we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation.”
Cuomo in August insisted, “I never made calls to the press about my brother’s situation.
On Wednesday, Cuomo said that he was embarrassed by the suspension.
“It hurts to even say it; it’s embarrassing, but I understand it, and I understand why some people feel the way they do about what I did. I’ve apologized in the past, and I mean it; […] the last thing I ever wanted to do was compromise any of my colleagues and do anything but help,” he insisted.