Video of the testimony that got Chris Cuomo fired from his prominent CNN job has been released by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Fox News reported that the “damning video” was released Thursday, though transcripts of the July 15, 2021, testimony had been released in November just a week before he was fired. Cuomo was fired on December 4, with CNN citing “new information that came to light about his involvement with his brother’s defense.”
The videos were released in four parts and are part of what James’ office called “the final set of videos, transcripts, and corresponding exhibits from the independent investigation into sexual harassment allegations” against Cuomo’s brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. As Fox noted, the “state initially refrained from releasing transcripts and footage but complied with New York discovery laws once a criminal complaint was filed against Andrew Cuomo.”
The videos, according to Fox, line up with the previously released transcripts, but give a “clear picture” of the former CNN host’s admission about his role in helping his brother during multiple scandals.
“When asked, I would reach out to sources, other journalists, to see if they had heard of anybody else coming out,” Cuomo said in his testimony. This line contradicted what Cuomo told CNN viewers in August 2021 when he declared that he “never made calls to the press about my brother’s situation.”
Cuomo also claimed in the testimony that it was normal for journalists to reach out to each other to ask about stories they’re working on, claiming he in no way tried to influence their coverage of his brother.
Cuomo was initially suspended following document released by the attorney general’s office showed he was more involved in helping his brother than previously known, The Daily Wire reported. CNN’s initial statement regarding the suspension said:
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. 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.
Less than a week later, Cuomo was fired.
“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,” CNN said in a statement about Cuomo’s firing. “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,” CNN added. “Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate.”
Within days of his firing from CNN, Cuomo also lost his SiriusXM radio show, The Daily Wire reported.