CNN should investigate Chris Cuomo, who is reportedly still advising Gov. Andrew Cuomo

The Washington Post

The Washington Post's Erik Wemple is calling on CNN to launch a full-scale investigation into Chris Cuomo advising brother New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his pushback against sexual harassment allegations. Wemple's article went up a few hours before his Washington Post colleagues reported that Chris Cuomo is still advising Andrew Cuomo in wake of a New York attorney general investigation finding last week that the governor sexually harassed multiple women. Wemple said that "more relevant to CNN’s leadership is the link between the involvement of people such as Chris Cuomo and the miserable work culture of the state’s so-called 'executive chamber. The loyalties of such outside advisers, notes the report, channeled directly to Andrew Cuomo — not to the public interest or the state government, and certainly not to the sexual harassment victims. That dynamic was one of several factors that 'contributed to creating an environment where the Governor’s sexually harassing conduct was allowed to flourish and persist,' reads the report. Again: That’s far more than an optics problem for CNN. The AG report, of course, focuses on Andrew Cuomo’s conduct, not Chris Cuomo’s. That’s why CNN needs to commission a report of its own to determine just how its star anchor fit into this sexual harassment pushback effort. 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? Some context here: In July, the New York Times discovered that it had a conflict-of-interest problem on its hands: A sportswriter had agreed to co-write a book with Michael Phelps, even as she was writing laudatory coverage of the Olympic star. So the newspaper launched a full-on investigation, and the reporter resigned from the paper. The line-crossing behavior of Chris Cuomo makes the Times example look like ethical Silly Putty. Which is why we asked CNN point-blank: Has CNN taken any steps toward investigating Chris Cuomo’s activities? No response yet." Wemple also called out CNN Reliable Sources host Brian Stelter for describing the controversy as "an optics problem" with "no perfect answer" on his show Sunday. Stelter also said that the controversy is "more complicated story than you might think" and that "viewers wanted to see (Chris Cuomo) on TV. And let’s be honest, this is TV. It’s not a totally irrelevant factor. Chris had the highest rated hour on CNN on Tuesday, on Wednesday and again on Thursday." Wemple said of Stelter's comments: "There is nothing at all 'complicated' about the story. CNN flouted journalistic ethics in spring 2020 when it allowed Chris Cuomo to host his brother about a dozen times in flattering gab sessions — and then, when the governor’s covid-19 and sexual harassment scandals piled up in early 2021, the network somehow tracked down its internal guidelines and banned Chris Cuomo from covering his brother. That switcheroo is what is unprecedented." Wemple also pointed out that Stelter, a frequent Fox News critic, would never defend Fox News by pointing to the conservative news network’s killer ratings. Stelter, said Wemple, is also applying a defense of Chris Cuomo that he would never apply to Tucker Carlson or Sean Hannity. ALSO: Tucker Carlson defends Chris Cuomo, saying “loyalty should be to your family above all else.”