NEW YORK — CNN star Chris Cuomo gave his brother Gov. Andrew Cuomo advice on how to handle bombshell sexual harassment allegations, according to a published report.
The younger Cuomo participated in conference calls with the governor and senior members of his staff, The Washington Post reported Thursday, citing anonymous people familiar with the conversations.
The calls took place earlier this year, according to the publication, as women who had worked with him went public with allegations of inappropriate comments and touching.
Chris Cuomo urged his brother “to take a defiant position and not to resign from the governor’s office,” according to the article.
CNN acknowledged to the Post that Chris Cuomo, who anchors the network’s 9 p.m. programming, had participated in the conversations, calling the move a mistake.
“Chris has not been involved in CNN’s extensive coverage of the allegations against Governor Cuomo — on air or behind the scenes,” CNN said in a statement. “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 network added. “He will not participate in such conversations going forward.”
CNN had no plans to discipline Chris Cuomo, who held a series of feel-good interviews with the governor through the height of the coronavirus outbreak last year.
Cuomo’s office characterized the calls in which Chris Cuomo had participated as informal.
“There were a few phone conversations, with friends and advisers giving the governor advice,” Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi told the Post.
Cuomo has strongly denied the allegations of sexual misconduct.
