Chris Cuomo took part in strategy calls advising his brother, the New York governor

[SouthBayDem]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Washington Post

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo advised his brother, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, and senior members of the governor’s staff on how to respond to sexual harassment allegations made earlier this year by women who had worked with the governor, according to four people familiar with the discussions.

Cuomo, one of the network’s top stars, joined a series of conference calls that included the Democratic governor, his top aide, his communications team, lawyers and a number of outside advisers, according to the people familiar with the conversations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private sessions.

The calls occurred earlier this year, when a growing number of claims that Andrew Cuomo made inappropriate comments or touched women without their permission had escalated into a political crisis for the three-term governor.

The cable news anchor encouraged his brother to take a defiant position and not to resign from the governor’s office, the people said. At one point, he used the phrase “cancel culture” as a reason to hold firm in the face of the allegations, two people present on one call said.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/chris-cuomo-andrew-cuomo/2021/05/20/99579382-b7f9-11eb-bb84-6b92dedcd8ed_story.html

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Full title (didn't fit): Chris Cuomo took part in strategy calls advising his brother, the New York governor, on how to respond to sexual harassment allegations

[Faux pas]

1. Kickin' with disgust!

Crossing Chris my watch list forever now, even tho I haven't watched him for months

[brush]

9. I'd advise the same for my brother, especially since none of the accusers...

were willing to testify under oath. What's up with that?

[Faux pas]

14. They

were paid off or threatened maybe? Whatever it is, it reeks of B effing S.

[brush]

18. That's for the investigation to find out. Curious though...

maybe they were paid to come forward in the first place, then backed off on having to testify under oath?

Guess the investigation will get to the bottom of it.

[onetexan]

15. +1 K&R

[FBaggins]

21. What gave you that impression?

Four of them are scheduled to testify under oath over the next couple of weeks.

[brush]

23. Finally? Well that's good. There were reports none were willing to before.

Let's see if it happens. I mean months ago Cuomo's accusers were coming forward daily then everything went quiet and not a peep was heard.

[BlueTsunami2018]

2. I can see that.

I’d probably do the same if my brother was Governor.

[PortTack]

4. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[live love laugh]

30. it's a no-brainer for me. I'd look askance at a sibling who wouldn't do the same. nt

[Rhiannon12866]

32. Same here.

[dweller]

3. And ?

As I recall, he stayed out of the controversy on his news program, or at least I heard him say that ... I don’t watch Chris normally, may see some clips here now and then ... and it IS his brother

✌🏻

[underpants]

7. Yeah I remember him saying he couldn't discuss or cover it

He’s his brother and he’s in the business.

[Shermann]

12. +1...I recall him recusing himself from covering that scandal nt

[stillcool]

5. oh no. He spoke to his brother?

[Celerity]

10. In a statement, CNN acknowledged that Chris Cuomo took part in the strategy sessions, saying his

involvement was a mistake.

“Chris has not been involved in CNN’s extensive coverage of the allegations against Governor Cuomo — on air or behind the scenes,” the network 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 statement added. “He will not participate in such conversations going forward.”

The network said Cuomo will not be disciplined. The episodes further illuminate how the Cuomo brothers, who are 13 years apart in age, have benefited from their respective high perches in politics and media. Early in the coronavirus pandemic, a top state Department of Health doctor was dispatched to the Hamptons to test Chris Cuomo and his family, The Washington Post previously reported.

[stopdiggin]

25. and that sounds about as proper and even handed

as you could get (or make it). Cuomo stayed out of it (or so it is said) at a professional level -- didn't try to hide anything from his employers. And it was crystal clear to all that the brothers had this kind of long standing relationship. About the only thing you could add to this would have been a Chinese wall within the organization (CNN) -- and I'm not sure what that really gains in terms of ethics given the transparency of the relationship, the reporting, and the crisis.

Perhaps it was a mistake (as everyone has subsequently acknowledged) that he engaged at the level of legal or 'staff' -- but given the experience and acumen on the part of both -- is there really a lot on offer here that both siblings don't already know, twice over?

[YoshidaYui]

29. good...

cause i actually like him especially with his banter with Don Lemon!

[MerryHolidays]

6. Not a big deal to me at all

If compromised his journalistic integrity, that's one thing (although on Fox News, it's the basic philosophy)....but if there is not even that, he's just defending his brother.

Chris Cuomo is no fool...I find him to be an excellent interrogator most of the time, and he's not afraid "to go for the jugular" when warranted.

[Mike Nelson]

8. I think...

... that's normal. I usually watch TRMS at Cuomo's time, but I have seen him occasionally. I don't hold this against him.

[lapucelle]

11. Chris Cuomo isn't covering the story. Why the concern?

[SouthBayDem]

13. Appearance of improper conduct eom

[Scrivener7]

17. Okay.

[rickford66]

19. Trump consulted Hannity every night.

[George II]

20. He's apologizing right now, but who cares what a man does with his brother, regardless....

....of their positions.

I don't see what the problem is. A number of people in the media advise family members or politicians. Chris Cuomo never hid it like others do.

[Jon King]

22. A conference call with dozens of people on it????

Seriously, thats not 'talking to his brother'. Thats sheer stupidity. Of course someone will later give out the information that he was advising him.

Common sense says he could have spoken to his brother privately, given the same advice, and not taken place on the call.

But he did own it and aplogize.

[PoliticAverse]

24. I'm shocked, shocked that a man talked to and gave advice to his brother. n/t

[Celerity]

27. The main issue was he advised some of the staff of the Governor.

[stopdiggin]

26. don't see this as any kind of major

(or really even minor) transgression on either a professional or ethical level. Particularly since CC was quite open about the relationship -- and immediately recusing himself on a professional basis.

This was all pretty darned transparent.

[JoeOtterbein]

28. K n R ! Thanks for posting!

I remember when my journalist daughter took her little (adult) brother, who is mentally-disabled, to a Bernie rally. A "well-recommended" member of our community said it was wrong for her to use her position as a journalist to get her brother in the area reserved for the press. Despite the fact that he was disabled and welcomed whole-heartily by the Bernie peeps.

No one other than me disagreed with the poster who objected.

We need to stand up for journalists when they are treated unfairly. And point out when relatives of politicians use journalism to advance the fortunes and power of their family.

As for C. Cuomo, he needs to resign ASAP. He is an embarrassment to all true journalists. Even the ones who help get their little brothers into rallies.

[live love laugh]

31. Well well ... as things heat up in SDNY's investigation the Cuomo attacks heat up. Coincidence? nt

[Rhiannon12866]

33. He's a much better brother than Mike Pence's!

From Colbert:

[Omaha Steve]

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