CNN fires Chris Cuomo ‘effective immediately’ for allegedly aiding brother

CNN fired veteran anchor and correspondent Chris Cuomo, the cable news channel said Saturday, amid an investigation into his involvement with helping defend brother Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor, against sexual misconduct allegations.

Chris Cuomo had been suspended from CNN over the matter just days before his termination. “We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately,” a statement posted to CNN’s official communications Twitter account said. “While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light.”

Cuomo wrote in a statement on Twitter Saturday: “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 slow. I owe them all and will miss that group of special people who did really important work.”

Cuomo was first suspended last Tuesday after transcripts released by the New York attorney general’s office alleged that he helped advise and assist in his brother’s responses to the sexual harassment allegations.  The transcripts detailed how he allegedly used his position to find information about his brother’s accusers. 

“I have a lead on the wedding girl,” Chris Cuomo allegedly wrote in a text message. “Anything short of firing Chris Cuomo reflects a network lacking both morals and a backbone,” Charlotte Bennett, one of Andrew Cuomo’s accusers, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. CNN accepted that Cuomo “broke our rules” when they suspended him.