Former CNN host Chris Cuomo is reportedly planning on taking on his former network by filing a massive lawsuit to get tens of millions of dollars that he believes is still owed to him on his contract and to “likely” seek damages from his recent firing.
“Cuomo, 51, has hired lawyers and is preparing to file the lawsuit over the remainder of the four-year contract he signed last year — after a bitter back-and-forth about what the network knew of his secret efforts to aid his embattled brother, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo,” the New York Post reported. “His contract was reportedly worth $6 million annually, leaving between $18 million and $20 million that he would be owed, sources said, adding that Chris Cuomo would also likely seek damages.”
A CNN insider said that the far-left network has “no intention of paying Cuomo a penny” because “if he gets a settlement, there would be uproar.”
“CNN has a standard morality clause in their contract that says if the employee does anything of disrepute, they can be immediately fired,” another CNN insider told the Post.
CNN terminated Cuomo on Saturday evening, saying in a statement that it had encountered new information that led to its decision:
Chris Cuomo was suspended earlier this week pending further evaluation of new information that came to light about his involvement with his brother’s defense. We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately. While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light. Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate.
“This is not how I want my time at CNN to end but I have already told you why and how I helped my brother,” Chris Cuomo responded. “So let me now say as disappointing as this is, I could not be more proud of the team at Cuomo Prime Time and the work we did as CNN’s #1 show in the most competitive time slot. I owe them all and will miss that group of special people who did really important work.”
CNN came under fire over its statement because it did not disclose what the “additional information” was that it said came to light during the course of its investigation.
Debra S. Katz, a left-wing attorney, said in a statement on Sunday that she is representing a client who claims that Chris Cuomo engaged in “serious sexual misconduct” against her at another network.
Katz said she notified CNN of the allegations on Wednesday and that the allegations are ultimately what led to Chris Cuomo being fired from CNN.
In a statement, Katz said:
In the wake of public sexual harassment allegations against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, Chris Cuomo looked directly into the camera and told viewers of Cuomo Prime Time, “I have always cared very deeply about these issues and profoundly so. I just wanted to tell you that.” Subsequently, the Attorney General released jaw-dropping documentary evidence demonstrating that Chris Cuomo played an active role in attempting to smear women whom the Attorney General concluded had made serious allegations of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct against the Governor. Hearing the hypocrisy of Chris Cuomo’s on-air words and disgusted by his efforts to try to discredit these women, my client retained counsel to report his serious sexual misconduct against her to CNN.
On Wednesday, December 1, 2021, I contacted CNN to report my client’s allegations of misconduct against Chris Cuomo. By Friday, I was in discussions with CNN about providing documentary evidence of my client’s allegations and making my client available for an interview with CNN’s outside counsel. Last night, CNN acted promptly on my client’s complaint and fired Mr. Cuomo.
My client came forward at this time because she felt in sharing her story and related documentation, she could help protect other women. She will continue to cooperate with CNN’s investigation into her allegations. Given the nature of her allegations, she wishes to remain anonymous, and we ask that you respect this decision.