New information, including a cache of new documents and transcripts of interviews with investigators, was released Monday by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office, leading the investigation into the investigation. charges against the governor.
The documents indicated that the scope of the anchor’s aim to help his brother was more substantial and that he was more closely involved than previously known, prompting CNN to begin a review of the document.
“Thousands of additional transcripts and exhibits released today by the NY Attorney General are worthy of scrutiny and consideration,” CNN said in a statement. “We will have conversations and seek more clarity on their importance as they relate to CNN over the next few days.”
Documents released Monday include text messages between Chris Cuomo and Melissa DeRosa, a former top aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo, that show he was credited with delivering the safeguard measure. defended against a series of sexual misconduct allegations.
The text messages also reveal that Chris Cuomo has sought to use his connections in the press to help prepare the governor’s team when accusers begin to make their stories public.
“Can you check your sources,” DeRosa asked March 7.
“Up there,” Chris Cuomo replied.
Chris Cuomo also admitted to investigators that he was trying to learn more about a story by journalist Ronan Farrow. Protective anchors practice as usual.
“The idea of a reporter phoning another reporter to find out about what is going to happen in the pipeline is purely business as usual,” he said.
When Andrew Cuomo stepped down as governor in August, Chris Cuomo told a CNN audience he was “not an adviser,” but “a brother.” He admitted that he talked to his brother’s aides and made the “decision” until CNN asked him to stop doing so in May.
The “Cuomo Prime Time” host also said during the August broadcast, “I never attack nor encourage anyone to attack any woman who comes first. I have never called.” press about his brother’s situation.”
Monday’s revelation casts some doubt on his claims about his interactions with the press.
“I’ll – when asked, I’ll be reaching out to other sources, other journalists, to see if they’ve heard of anyone else showing up,” Chris Cuomo said during the testimony.
Chris Cuomo also swore what he told CNN audiences earlier this year: that he “never influenced or attempted to control CNN’s coverage of my family.”
During the interrogation, he echoed that sentiment, saying, “If I try to influence any reporting at CNN or anywhere else, I assure you people will know, and so do many others.”
In a statement in May, CNN said, “Chris was not involved in CNN’s extensive coverage of the allegations against Governor Cuomo – on television or behind the scenes.” The network’s statement added, “Partly because, as he said on his show, he can never be objective. But also because he often acts as a moderator for the show. However, it is inappropriate to participate in chats that involve members of the Governor’s staff, which Chris acknowledges. He will not participate in the conversations. talk like that later.”
The anchor at the time also took to his show to say he was “family first and job second” and apologized for the way he had helped his brother.
“It won’t happen again. It was a mistake, because I put my colleagues here, who I believe are the best in the business, in a terrible position,” he said. “I never intended for that, I never would have intended for that and I apologize for that.”
Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Andrew Cuomo, called the latest release of transcripts, documents and videos a “manipulated release.”
“No one is a fool in New York, and the misuse of government resources by James and her colleagues to the detriment of political opponents is obvious and reprehensible, because it is the worst kind of behavior. unethical and illegal,” Azzopardi said in a statement.
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