New Chris Cuomo sexual misconduct allegation emerged days before CNN firing
CNN reportedly learned about a new sexual misconduct
allegation against its disgraced anchor Chris Cuomo just days before his
firing.
The claim came Wednesday from prominent attorney Debra S.
Katz, who is representing the accuser, according to The New York Times.
Katz's client is a "former junior colleague at another
network" and the newly emerged allegation against Cuomo is "unrelated
to the Gov. Andrew Cuomo matter."
The lawyer said her client "came forward because she
was disgusted by Chris Cuomo’s on-air statements in response to the allegations
made against his brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo" when the CNN star addressed
the scandal in March, telling viewers, "I have always cared very deeply
about these issues, and profoundly so. I just wanted to tell you that."
"She was disgusted by Chris Cuomo’s on-air statements
in response to the allegations made against his brother, Gov. Andrew
Cuomo."
Notably, Katz also represents Charlotte Bennett, the second
woman to accuse now-ousted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual
harassment.
It was not immediately unknown if this newest reported
revelation had any role in CNN's firing of Cuomo on Saturday or if the
allegation was the "additional information" the network referred to
in its statement announcing the anchor's termination.
"Based on the report we received regarding Chris’s
conduct with his brother’s defense, we had cause to terminate," a CNN
spokesperson told the Times. "When new allegations came to us this week,
we took them seriously, and saw no reason to delay taking immediate
action."
Steven Goldberg, a spokesman for Cuomo, additionally told
the Times, "These apparently anonymous allegations are not true,"
adding "If the goal in making these false and unvetted accusations was to
see Mr. Cuomo punished by CNN, that may explain his unwarranted
termination."
"These apparently anonymous allegations are not true.
If the goal in making these false and unvetted accusations was to see Mr. Cuomo
punished by CNN, that may explain his unwarranted termination."
Previous allegation
This would mark at least the second time Cuomo has been
accused of sexual misconduct.
Shelley Ross, a veteran TV producer, went public in
September, penning a guest essay in The New York Times alleging that Cuomo
squeezed her buttock at a work function in 2005 while the two of them were
colleagues at ABC News. She shared the email he had sent to her apologizing for
the incident.
"It is always disturbing to watch someone’s fall from
grace," Ross told Fox News in reaction to Cuomo's firing. "Many
people lost very important jobs in the wake of the sexual harassment scandals
surrounding Gov. Cuomo."
"I am glad that CNN will fall on the right side of
history. Those who harass women, strategize to silence or smear those who come
forward, must be held accountable," Ross added.
"I am glad that CNN will fall on the right side of
history. Those who harass women, strategize to silence or smear those who come
forward, must be held accountable."
In September 2020, "Tucker Carlson Tonight"
obtained a 2018 audio recording of Cuomo discussing how reporters were
allegedly investigating claims that were made against him while he was an
anchor for ABC News.
‘I’m always careful'
"You know, I'm always careful when I talk to media, you
know?" Cuomo told former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. "Do you know
how many f----- phone calls I've gotten from people at ABC who say that
reporters are calling and lying about things they heard about me to try to get
stories about me when I was at ABC? Guys calling and saying, 'I heard he's the
Charlie Rose of ABC, used to invite women to the hotel and open up his
bathrobe.' Do I look like the kind of f----- guy who's gotta do that?"
"Sure. Why not?" Cohen replied with a chuckle.
Cuomo, who left ABC News in 2013 after previous anchoring
"20/20" and "Good Morning America," went into further
detail about what he experienced.
"It's lying- 'so I already have a good source that says
that he forced one woman to have sex. I just wanted to know if you heard
anything like that.' There is no woman! There is none of that!" the CNN
anchor then said. "So here's the problem: women who do work there say, 'Oh
yeah, you know, some of these men' and naming me with other guys, 'You know, we
bumped into each other once in the elevator and he put his hand on my shoulder
and he made me really uncomfortable.' I mean, what the f---?"
CNN issued a statement Saturday evening announcing it had
terminated Cuomo "effective immediately," coming just days after he
was suspended pending a review of the damning revelations from the New York
Attorney General's office about his involvement in protecting his brother.
"While in the process of that review, additional
information has come to light. Despite the termination, we will investigate as
appropriate," CNN stated.
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