(New York) The American news channel CNN announced on Tuesday evening that its host and star reporter Chris Cuomo had been sidelined for advising his brother, former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, in the face of charges of sexual assault which led to his indictment in October.
The two brothers, Andrew and Chris Cuomo, gained very strong national notoriety when the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged New York in 2020, thanks to the press briefings of the governor of the state, Andrew, and his exchanges live on CNN with his brother Chris, sometimes with humor and hindsight.
But accused of harassment and assault for several months by former state employees, the 63-year-old governor ended up resigning on August 11, a week after the publication of a damning investigative report.
“The services of the Attorney General (State) of New York (Letitia James) on Monday released transcripts that shed new light on the involvement of Chris Cuomo in the defense of his brother,” said Tuesday evening a CNN spokesperson quoted on the channel’s website.
” These documents […] raise serious questions “and” reveal a level of involvement in helping his brother more important than what we were aware of, “he added.
“We have therefore suspended Chris indefinitely pending a new review” of the situation, said the spokesperson.
Andrew Cuomo was indicted at the end of October for sexual assault on a former collaborator in December 2020 and could face criminal trial. A first court appearance in the state capital, Albany, scheduled for Nov. 17 has been postponed to early January.
PHOTO BRENDAN MCDERMID, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Andrew Cuomo
The Cuomo brothers are the sons of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo in the 1980s and 1990s, descendants of Italian immigrants.
Presenter and reporter Anderson Cooper will take over from Chris Cuomo, CNN said.