Chris Cuomo accused of sexual misconduct by ex-coworker

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A former colleague of Chris Cuomo has brought an allegation of sexual misconduct against the former CNN presenter, who was fired on Saturday for misleading the cable network about the extent of the role he played in trying to tone down the sexual harassment accusations that shot her brother, former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

A well-known labor attorney who represents the accuser contacted CNN on Wednesday to brief them on the allegation, according to the New York Times.

The disclosure came as an outside law firm investigated new documents released by New York’s top prosecutor on Monday, suggesting young Cuomo was more involved than he previously said in trying to control damage to his brother’s political career.

The woman who brought the unknown charges against Chris Cuomo, 51, was a former “junior colleague” of another news network, according to Debra Katz, the accuser’s lawyer, the newspaper said. The allegation has apparently not been linked to the cascade of accusations that led Andrew Cuomo to step down from his post in the face of impeachment four months ago.

It was not clear whether the woman’s claim influenced CNN’s choice to fire its prime-time featured presenter, according to the report. Cuomo was suspended indefinitely from his advertised $ 6 million per year job on Tuesday.

The woman who brought forward the unknown charges against former CNN presenter Chris Cuomo was a former “junior colleague” of another news network, according to Debra Katz.REUTERS

“Based on the report we received regarding Chris’s conduct in defending his brother, we had reason to shut down,” CNN told The Times. “When new allegations reached us this week, we took them seriously and saw no reason to delay taking immediate action.”

Katz, who also represented Andrew Cuomo’s accuser Charlotte Bennett, told the newspaper her client “came forward because she was disgusted by Chris Cuomo’s on-air statements in response to allegations against his brother, Governor Andrew Cuomo “.

Specifically, Katz reportedly quoted from a March 1 show where the presenter said, “I’ve always cared about these issues very much, and deeply. I just wanted to tell you.

Debra Katz said the accuser came forward because she was disgusted by Chris Cuomo’s on-air statements in response to the allegations against her brother, Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Chris Cuomo did not address the new allegations at press time, but released a statement earlier on Saturday after it was revealed he had used his press connections to help Albany officials dig in the past of an accuser – then participated in strategy sessions aimed at helping the governor fend off the scandal.

“This is not how I want my time on CNN to end, but I have already told you why and how I helped my brother,” said Chris Cuomo. “So let me say now, as disappointing as it may be, I couldn’t be more proud of the crew at ‘Cuomo Prime Time’ and the job we did as CNN’s # 1 show. in the most competitive time slot. “

Chris Cuomo, whose terms ended with CNN for trying to control damage to his brother’s political career, did not respond to the new allegations at the time of publication. Getty Images

In September, Shelley Ross, who worked with Cuomo at ABC News, said he touched her inappropriately at a party in 2005, “lowering a hand to firmly grip and squeeze the cheek of my butt.” .

Cuomo then told The Times that the incident was not sexual and that he later apologized.

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