CNN anchor Chris Cuomo engaged in “inappropriate” conversations with the staff of his brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the cable network said Thursday, though he took himself out of on-air coverage of the sexual harassment allegations against his brother.
The Washington Post reported that Chris Cuomo participated in strategy phone calls with senior staff members for his brother regarding the sexual harassment allegations.
Chris Cuomo encouraged his brother to take a “defiant position” amid growing calls for his resignation, The Post said. Two people present on one call told the newspaper that Chris Cuomo brought up “cancel culture” when encouraging his brother to stand his ground in the scandal.
“Chris has not been involved in CNN’s extensive coverage of the allegations against Governor Cuomo — on air or behind the scenes,” a spokesperson for the cable network told NBC News. “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.”