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.