CNN’s Chris Cuomo among Andrew Cuomo advisers who contributed to toxic harassment culture: AG report

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was part of a team of outside, loyal confidants to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D., that contributed to a culture allowing the governor’s “sexually harassing conduct” to “flourish,” a scathing state investigation revealed Tuesday.

Cuomo was one of several unpaid, trusted outside figures consulted by Gov. Cuomo and his Executive Chamber staff to grapple with the numerous sexual harassment allegations against him this year. He drafted a response for his brother to the allegations against him on Feb. 28, according to the report.

Do not overlook the Cuomo report appendix, which includes Charlotte Bennett’s texts about her Cuomo interactions and this email from Chris Cuomo appearing to draft a statement for his brother https://t.co/uN17cZRbNJ pic.twitter.com/etUCrQbWTX

— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) August 3, 2021

The report from New York Attorney General Letitia James, D., found CNN’s Cuomo and others were “regularly provided with confidential and often privileged information about state operations and helped make decisions that impacted State business and employees—all without any formal role, duty, or obligation to the State. ”

“The common thread among all of these individuals was a proven, personal loyalty to the Governor,” the report stated. “Their inclusion in the deliberations and the significant role they had in decision making reflect how loyalty and personal ties were valued as much, if not more, than any official function or role in State government. And because they did not have any formal position within the Executive Chamber, they could not reasonably have been relied upon to protect its interests as an institution or the interest of its current and former employees (including some who were complainants or witnesses), especially if those interests did not align with the Governor’s personal interests. – READ MORE