CNN's Chris Cuomo: Critics call for consequences after Andrew Cuomo resignation

Whither CNN’s Chris Cuomo? Now that his big brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has resigned following a sexual-harassment scandal, what’s next for the TV brother who helped him respond to it? Did the younger brother have anything to do with the governor’s decision Tuesday to step down in two weeks? Why are some critics calling on Chris Cuomo to be fired? 

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning. And what does CNN have to say about the primetime anchor’s future at the network? So far, nothing, but CNN provided past statements criticizing its top-rated star). USA TODAY also reached out to Chris Cuomo for comment. © AP New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and CNN anchor Chris Cuomo. Why does it matter what happens to Chris Cuomo? “What happens to him at CNN is less important to me than what happens to all the other journalists whose ethics will be questioned and whose bond of trust with the citizens they serve could be damaged by the choices he made,” wrote Kathleen Bartzen Culver, director of the Center for Journalism Ethics and a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, in an opinion piece for USA TODAY published this week. “When it comes to credibility and trust, people don’t see individual reporters or news organizations. They see ‘the media.’ So when one journalist or outlet makes questionable choices, the tarnish can easily spread to others. And make no mistake about it, Cuomo’s choices in this situation are questionable – at best.” Here’s what we know so far: Where is Chris Cuomo? On vacation at an undisclosed location. It’s a regularly scheduled, long-planned break, according to CNN’s media reporter Brian Stelter, reporting on his Sunday show, “Reliable Sources.”   What role did Cuomo play in his brother’s scandal? Tuesday’s scathing report by the New York state attorney general’s office on Andrew Cuomo’s alleged behavior also involved Chris, who was interviewed as part of the investigation and testified he urged his brother to show remorse in conference calls in which he participated.  “The attorney general’s report makes clear his actions went well beyond that,” says Bartzen Culver, including acting as a strategic adviser to the embattled governor’s team while his employer covered the scandal. Cuomo was instructed not to discuss his brother on air in recent weeks. “CNN needs to commission a report of its own to determine just how its star anchor fit into this sexual harassment pushback effort,” Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple wrote. “What, precisely, did he say in the conference calls? Was he aware that the executive chamber had provided false information to the Albany Times-Union as the paper explored the predicament of “Trooper #1”? What role did he play in the governor’s denials?” Why are some critics calling for Chris Cuomo’s head? Wemple called on CNN to “investigate” Cuomo’s role in helping his brother respond to sexual harassment allegations. 

Another Washington Post media columnist, Margaret Sullivan, called Cuomo’s actions “deplorable” and a failure to maintain “the most basic of journalistic principles, which are independence, fairness and impartiality.” 

His “supposedly” long-planned vacation “should be turned into — at least — an unpaid suspension of significant length,” Sullivan wrote. “And CNN should be transparent with its viewers that its anchor acted unethically and that the network won’t countenance it.”

What has Chris Cuomo said about his involvement?

He admitted on air in May that he had talked to his brother and members of his staff in an advisory capacity as the governor’s scandal was blowing up. This was not supposed to happen, per his bosses’ orders, and he apologized on air in May. 

“When my brother’s situation became turbulent, being looped into calls with other friends of his, and advisers that did include some of his staff, I understand why that was a problem for CNN,” he said. “It will not happen again. It was a mistake, because I put my colleagues here, who I believe are the best in the business, in a bad spot. I never intended for that. I would never intend for that. And I am sorry for that.

“I’ve never tried to influence this network’s coverage of my brother. In fact, I’ve been walled off from it.”

But Cuomo’s explanation that he counseled the governor out of a sense of brotherly duty isn’t a good excuse, Bartzen Culver said. 

“I would argue that makes the ethic of independence more important, not less,” she wrote. “He failed in (his) responsibility by entangling himself in his brother’s political strategy. And in doing so, he cast a shadow over the work of other journalists, as people – quite fairly – could see this as evidence that mainstream journalism is too close and too comfortable with the rich and powerful.”

What has CNN said about the conflict of interest?

The network was not pleased.

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

Why hasn’t Chris Cuomo talked about his brother’s scandal on his show?

CNN told him he couldn’t. Cuomo also explained this on air in March. 

“Obviously, I’m aware of what’s going on with my brother. And obviously, I cannot cover it, because he is my brother,” he said. “Now, of course, CNN has to cover it. They have covered it extensively. And they will continue to do so. I have always cared very deeply about these issues, and profoundly so. I just wanted to tell you that.”

What about those cozy pandemic chats between the brothers?

CNN said in a February statement that was different, because of the “extraordinary time” of the pandemic .  Chris Cuomo had COVID, was under quarantine in his house, and was a useful way for his brother to urge constituents to take protective me

“We felt that Chris speaking with his brother about the challenges of what millions of American families were struggling with was of significant human interest,” the network said then. “As a result, we made an exception to a rule that we have had in place since 2013, which prevents Chris from interviewing and covering his brother, and that rule remains in place today. CNN has covered the news surrounding Governor Cuomo extensively.”

A screen shows news coverage of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigning over allegations of sexual harassment, in Times Square on August 10, 2021, in New York. Embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation on August 10, 2021, after 11 women accused him of sexual harassment. “I think that given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to government,” Cuomo said in a live address. In this still image from video, Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference in Albany, N.Y. on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. Cuomo has resigned over a barrage of sexual harassment allegations in a fall from grace a year after he was widely hailed nationally for his detailed daily briefings and leadership during the darkest days of COVID-19. In this image from video made available by the Office of the Governor of New York, Rita Glavin, attorney for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, speaks in Albany, N.Y., on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, with a photo of Anna Ruch. People participate in a protest against N.Y. Governor Andrew Cuomo and protest for a moratorium on evictions on August 4, 2021 in New York City. The dual issues arose after New York Attorney General Letitia James investigation concluded that Governor Cuomo did sexually harass multiple women and the eviction moratorium instated by the CDC due to the COVID-19 pandemic is slated to elapse at the end of the month. In this image taken from video provided by Office of the NY Governor, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes a statement on a pre-recorded video released, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in New York. An investigation into New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has found that he sexually harassed multiple current and former state government employees. State Attorney General Letitia James announced the findings Tuesday. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a visit to a new COVID-19 vaccination site, Monday, March 15, 2021, at the State University of New York in Old Westbury. The site is scheduled to open on Friday. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo leaves the room after giving his daily coronavirus press briefing at New York Medical College on the campus of the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., on May 7, 2020. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference at the Jacob Javits Center that will house a temporary hospital in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, March 24, 2020, in New York. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former President Bill Clinton march in the annual Town of New Castle Memorial Day Parade in Chappaqua, N.Y. May 27, 2019. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and girlfriend Sandra Lee take a selfie with a voter as they prepare to vote at the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco, N.Y., Nov. 6, 2018. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during the 2016 Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 28, 2016. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his mother Matilda Cuomo watch as the casket of former three-term governor Mario Cuomo departs St. Ignatius Loyola Church on Jan. 6, 2015 in New York City. Mario Cuomo, who was once considered a likely democratic presidential candidate, died at his Manhattan home on January 1, only hours after his son Andrew was inaugurated for a second term. New York Giants President John Mara (left), New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (second from left), New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (second from right) and Super Bowl host committee President Alfred Kelly appear at a Super Bowl XLVIII event in New York City on Feb. 1, 2014. President Barack Obama and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, chat with a man inside the distribution tent as he tours a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in the aftermath of Storm Sandy on Staten Island in New York on Nov. 15, 2012. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, center, hands pens to legislators after signing into law a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Friday, June 24, 2011. Behind Cuomo, from left, are Assemblyman Matthew Titone, Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, Sen. Thomas Duane and Sen. James Alesi. New York Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo (C) celebrates with his father former New York Governor Mario Cuomo (L) and mother Matilda Cuomo at the Sheraton New York on election night, Nov. 2, 2010 in New York City. Cuomo resoundingly defeated his Tea Party-backed opponent, Republican candidate Carl Paladino. New York Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo holds a copy of his “Clean Up Albany” plan as he speaks at a press conference at John Jay College Oct. 5, 2010 in New York City. From left, New York Democratic candidates Lt. Governor candidate David Paterson, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer, and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton celebrate their victory in the midterm elections, in New York, Nov. 7, 2006. Attorney general candidate Andrew Cuomo leaves the voting booth after casting his ballot in the New York primary election, Sept. 12, 2006 in New York. Mr. Andrew Cuomo (R), son of former Governor of New York Mario Cuomo, announces his candidacy for Governor of New York State April 16, 2002 as his mother Matilda (L) and wife Kerry Kennedy Cuomo look on April 16, 2002 outside the Supreme Court Building in Mineloa, New York. Also in attendance are his three daughters, twins Mariah and Cara and Michaela. Secretary of Housing and Urban Developement Andrew Cuomo, center, speaks during a a briefing at HUD in Washington, Dec. 14, 1999, after a meeting on lawsuits against gun manufacturers. Andrew Cuomo, 31, left, the son of New Yorks Governor and the head of help Inc., a non-profit organization which builds transitional housing for homeless women and children, joins John F. Kennedy Jr. during a radio interview in New Rochelle, N.Y., May 17, 1989. Andrew Cuomo, son on New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, is flanked by presidential candidate Gov. Michael Dukakis of Mass. and Dukakis’ wife, Kitty as they tour the Homeless Emergency Leverage Program (H.E.L.P.) a shelter for the homeless in Brooklyn, N.Y. on March 28, 1988.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CNN’s Chris Cuomo: Critics call for consequences after Andrew Cuomo resignation