News anchor Chris Cuomo, 51, has been fired by CNN ‘effective immediately’ for his role in helping his older brother Andrew Cuomo.
In a statement announced on Saturday, the network said: “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 also revealed that the network enlisted an outside law firm to investigate how the embattled anchor aided his brother in his fight against a scandal this year.
“We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately,” the statement said.
“While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light. Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate.”
Cuomo acknowledged the termination and expressed regret for his role in the scandal. However, he asserted that he was just helping his brother.
In a post shared on social media, the veteran TV journalist said: “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.”
This comes less than a week after the New York Attorney General’s Office released exhibits and transcripts showing that Cuomo had played an even more intimate role in the political affairs of his brother than initially thought by the public and the network.
The text messages from Cuomo to his brother’s advisers, uncovered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, revealed that he had a far more extensive role in the political machinations of his brothers.
CNN said in a statement announcing the news anchor’s suspension that the newly released findings “shed new light on Chris Cuomo’s involvement in his brother’s defense.”
“The documents, which we were not privy to before their public release, raise serious questions,” the statement read.
“When Chris admitted to us he had offered advice to his brother’s staff, he broke our rules and we acknowledged that publicly.
“But we also appreciated the unique position he was in and understood his need to put family first and job second.”
“However, 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,” it added.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this story with your friends and family!