Former CNN host Chris Cuomo responded on Sunday to sexual misconduct allegations that were made against him last week by denying that they were true.
Cuomo was fired from the network on Saturday evening after it had launched an investigation into the role that he played in defending his brother, then-New York Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo, in a sexual misconduct scandal that ultimately led to his downfall.
CNN said in a statement that during the course of its investigation into Chris Cuomo, “additional information” came to light and that the network would continue to investigate the allegations even though Chris Cuomo is no longer with the network.
Debra S. Katz, a left-wing attorney, said on Sunday that she contacted CNN last Wednesday to inform them that a woman had come forward to say that Chris Cuomo had sexually harassed her while at another news network.
Chris Cuomo’s representative responded to the allegations in a statement on Sunday, saying, “These apparently anonymous allegations are not true.”
“To the extent that they were sent to CNN to negate what Chris Cuomo told his audience, he fully stands by his on-air statements about his connection to these issues, both professionally and in a profoundly personal way,” the statement from Chris Cuomo’s team said. “If the goal in making these false and unvetted accusations was to see Mr. Cuomo punished by CNN, that may explain his unwarranted termination.”
Katz’s full statement 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.
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