The star anchor Chris Cuomo was fired by CNN on Saturday, completing a stunning downfall for the network’s top-rated anchor amid an ongoing inquiry into his efforts to help his brother, Andrew M.
But the anchor was suspended on Tuesday after a new batch of testimony and text messages, released by the New York attorney general, revealed a more intimate and engaged role in his brother’s political affairs than the network said it had previously known.
“We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately,” CNN said in a statement.
But it was the troubles of his brother, who resigned the governorship in August, that ultimately embroiled Mr. Cuomo in a controversy that precipitated his dismissal.
Documents released on Nov.
Mr. Zucker — who had been steadfast in backing Mr. Cuomo, at one point saying the anchor was “human” and facing “very unique circumstances” — informed the anchor on Saturday that he was being fired.
But its executives had not immediately planned to hire an outside law firm, according to a person familiar with the network’s internal decision-making process.
Before joining CNN, Mr. Cuomo spent years as an on-air correspondent, covering wildfires, shooting rampages and war zones, most prominently at ABC News.
After drawing national praise for his leadership in the early days of the pandemic, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was confronted with several scandals that eventually led to his resignation on Aug.
30, after the New York State attorney general released new evidence about his far-reaching efforts to assist his sibling that were in breach of journalistic standards.
By then, Mr. Cuomo had moved to prime-time, beating out other prominent hosts like Mr. Tapper for the coveted 9 p.m.
Ratings surged further after Chris Cuomo contracted the virus; he continued broadcasting, and interviewing his brother, from quarantine in the basement of his Long Island home.
CNN did not discipline Chris Cuomo, and at one point offered the anchor a leave of absence if he wished to more formally help his brother.
“I never attacked nor encouraged anyone to attack any woman who came forward.
But the new batch of testimony and text messages suggested that Mr. Cuomo did function as an adviser and did reach out to journalists.