Chris Cuomo Suspended Indefinitely by CNN After Damning Text Messages Released

If you followed the long, drawn-out drama of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, one of the most prominent Democrats in the country before he left office, you’re likely aware that his brother, Chris “Fredo” Cuomo, hosts a primetime show on CNN. During the runup to Gov. Cuomo’s resignation in August, rumors concerning whether Chris Cuomo would be able to keep his primetime gig after he revealed that he had, at times, offered advice to his brother Andrew facing a litany of sexual assault allegations, among other matters, that threatened to boot him from the executive mansion in Albany.

Chris Cuomo, over the summer, admitted he did informally help his embattled brother but claimed at the time it was nothing more than one brother to another.

However, it was recently learned through newly released text messages that the assistance went beyond informal advice and likely involved some of Chris Cuomo’s resources specifically as a CNN anchor to dig up dirt on some of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s female accusers:

CNN anchor and journalist Chris Cuomo sought to help tailor former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s responses to allegations of sexual misconduct, according to documents released Monday by the state’s attorney general. Chris Cuomo has previously acknowledged involvement in his brother’s response to the allegations, but the new documents shed light on his day-to-day communications with a top aide to the governor.

In one series of March 2021 text messages between Chris Cuomo, who is the former governor’s younger brother, and Melissa DeRosa, the aide, Cuomo offered critical notes on a statement previously released on the governor’s behalf.

“Please let me help with the prep,” he texted DeRosa on March 3, two days after he sent the notes and his own version, which he told DeRosa was what the then-governor “should have said.”

After the text messages were leaked, the damn broke and numerous outlets, including several left-leaning publications, such as Rolling Stone, called for CNN to remove Chris Cuomo from his primetime spot for lying to his audience and misleading the public concerning how heavily involved he was in strategizing with his governor brother. The hypocrisy and irony are too rich for the Cuomo brothers, who claimed to be high priests of the #MeToo movement, to be caught digging up dirt on women claiming sexual harassment against Andrew.

As of Tuesday evening, CNN now announced Chris Cuomo has been suspended indefinitely from his primetime show with Anderson Cooper filling in for now:

CNN said it suspended Chris Cuomo “indefinitely, pending further evaluation,” following new disclosures about how he helped his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in the midst of a scandal over allegations sexual harassment, a move that leaves the WarnerMedia network without the services of its most-watched anchor.

“The New York Attorney General’s office released transcripts and exhibits Monday that 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. When Chris admitted to us that 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,” CNN said in a statement Tuesday evening. “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.”

Whatever “pending further investigation” means is up in the air. Would CNN be gutsy enough to remove Chris Cuomo over the next month or so and see how it goes before deciding whether to bring him back? It seems like his career at CNN is likely over. The network was already under pressure for his inappropriate interviews and the impropriety of reporting on his own brother as a governor fighting for his political career earlier this year.

Now, with the recent revelations, and unresolved credible claims of sexual assault against Chris Cuomo himself, it seems like the network decided that, despite his ratings, it was time to dump him overboard. It’s astonishing it took CNN this long to say bye-bye to Fredo given his prior issues and ongoing scandals involving his brother.

No word on who will replace Cuomo in the 9 pm primetime slot at CNN, but a new show will likely be announced sometime in early next year, if not sooner.