Chris Cuomo says he urged brother Andrew to resign, denies he was official adviser
KATE FELDMAN
In his first night back from a miraculously timed vacation, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo tried to paint himself as just a good brother.
A week after his sibling, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, promised to resign after Attorney General Letitia James’s office found that he had sexually harassed 11 women, the younger Cuomo faced the camera and claimed he told his brother to step down.
“I was there to listen and offer my take. And my advice to my brother was simple and consistent: Own what you did. Tell people what you can do to be better. Be contrite. And finally, accept that it doesn’t matter what you intended. What matters is how your actions and words were perceived,” the 51-year-old host said Monday night at the top of “Cuomo Primetime.”
Chris Cuomo (left) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Chris Cuomo (left) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo
“While it was something I never imagined ever having to, I did urge my brother to resign when the time came.”
Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation last Tuesday, effective in 14 days, but has reportedly not handed in an official resignation notice.
Chris, meanwhile, defended reports that he was serving as an adviser to the governor as the allegations piled up against him.
“I’m not an adviser. I’m a brother,” he said.
“As you know, back in May when I was told to no longer communicate with my brother’s aides in any group meetings, I acknowledged it was a mistake. I apologize to my colleagues and I stopped and I meant it was a unique situation being a brother to a politician and a scandal and being part of the media.”
At the time, CNN insisted that the Cuomos had maintained a firewall, but admitted that even the optics were bad.
Mario Cuomo and family at their home in Queens, New York on May 18, 1977.
Mario Cuomo, left, and his son Andrew look over the family car on May 8, 1977.
Mario Cuomo, right, rides in car as son Andrew drives on Jan. 20, 1983.
Gov. Mario Cuomo shares breakfast with son Andrew on Jan. 30, 1983.
Gov. Mario Cuomo, left, acknowledges applause at the inauguration as wife Matilda and son Andrew look on Jan. 1, 1987.
Andrew Cuomo with sister, Maria on Nov. 4, 1988.
Andrew Cuomo, 31, the son of New York's Governor and the head of help Inc., a non-profit organization that builds transitional housing for homeless women and children, joins John F. Kennedy Jr. during a radio interview in New Rochelle, New York on Tuesday, May 17, 1989. Kennedy told listeners he would have no complaints if housing for the homeless was arranged in Hyannisport. Mass.
John F. Kennedy Jr., left, Andrew Cuomo and Kerry Kennedy, at Maguire's Cafe, for a fund-raiser for H.E.L.P., Cuomo's organization that builds low-income housing.
Donald Trump, left, and Andrew Cuomo on Dec. 12, 1989.
Chris Cuomo, left, and Andrew Cuomo at the bachelor party for Andrew on June 3, 1990. Andrew Cuomo married Kerry Kennedy on June 9, 1990.
Andrew Cuomo arrives at the funeral of Rose Kennedy on Jan. 24, 1995, in Boston.
Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, left, and her husband Andrew Cuomo holding their newborn twins Mariah Matilda Kennedy Cuomo, left, and Cara Ethyl Kennedy Cuomo at their suburban Washington home. The twins were born Wednesday Jan. 11, 1995 at Georgetown University Hospital. Cara Ethyl arrived at 7:22 p.m. weighing 6-pounds 13 ounces and was 19 1/4 inches long. Mariah Matilda arrived at 7:42 p.m. weighing 5-pounds 14 ounces and was 19 inches long.
Andrew Cuomo attends a press conference at 26 Federal Plaza on July 5, 1995.
Andrew Cuomo at his confirmation hearing for HUD Secretary on Jan. 22, 1997.
Andrew Cuomo is congratulated by his wife Kerry Kennedy Cuomo (far right) as she holds their daughter Kara, 2, after Cuomo was sworn in as the new HUD Secretary on Feb. 10, 1997, during a ceremony in the Indian Treaty Room at the Old Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. Cuomo's brother Chris (right) holds their daughter Mariah, 2.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Andrew Cuomo during an interview in his Washington DC office on April 4, 1997.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Sen. Albert Gore, left, talks with New York Mayor Ed Koch, center, and Andrew Cuomo at a hearing on aid for the homeless, Monday, March 28, 1988 in Brooklyn, N.Y.. A range of politicians joined the congressional hearing to condemn a proposed federal regulation that would limit funding for families in welfare hotels.
President Clinton, left, made a trip to Baltimore on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 1998, with HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo on the subject of homelessness. Christa Spangler, center, who introduced the President and Andrew Cuomo.
Vice President Al Gore, right, shakes hands with Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo, left, Thursday, Sept. 30, 1999, at the Fulton-Montgomery Community College in Johnstown, N.Y. Gore was in the economically distressed area of upstate New York as he sought to pump new energy into his presidential campaign.
Actor and president of the Creative Coalition William Baldwin, left, speaks to reporters as US Housing and Urban Development Secretary (HUD) Andrew Cuomo, right, looks on during a press conference in Dec. 1999 at The House of Ruth, a transitional housing facility for homeless families in Washington, DC .
Andrew Cuomo, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary as he met with the Editorial Board of The New York Daily News at our offices at 450 West 33rd Street in Manhattan, on Jan. 4, 2000.
US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Andrew Cuomo addresses the Democratic National Convention on its fourth and final day in August 2000 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Former Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo, center, arrives at the Byram Hills Central School District Administrative Offices with his wife, Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, and their daughters, Cara, 6-years-old, left, Michaela, 3-years-old, 2nd from left, and Mariah, right, Friday, June 22, 2001, in Armonk, N.Y. Cuomo enrolled his twin daughters in the first grade in the Byram Hills public school after buying a home in Westchester county.
Candidate Andrew Cuomo at HS for Teaching in Manhattan announces his education plan for the state on April 11, 2002.
Andrew Cuomo, left, with daughter Michaela, announces his run for governor at the Genesis Homes in East New York, Brooklyn.
New York Democratic candidate for Governor Andrew Cuomo, left, is trailed by his father former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, right, during a campaign stop in Brooklyn, New York, on April 16, 2002.
New York Democratic candidate for Governor Andrew Cuomo, right, campaigns with wife Kerrey Kennedy Cuomo, left, in Brooklyn, New York, on April 16, 2002.
Andrew Cuomo, the son of former Governor of New York Mario Cuomo, announces his candidacy for Governor of New York State on April 16, 2002 as his supporters look on outside the Supreme Court Building in Mineola , New York.
New York Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks about his support of raising the state minimum wage at a rare event with fellow Democratic candidate Carl McCall May 2, 2002 in New York .
Gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Cuomo looks over his 1968 Pontiac GTO and his 1975 Corvette at his Mount Kisco, N.Y., home in 2002.
Andrew Cuomo, and daughters Cara, Mariah and Michaela attend the release party for "Crossroads," a book of essays he edited, at Osteria del Circo on Nov. 17, 2003.
Andrew Cuomo gives a thumbs-up as he arrives at Radio City Music Hall for "A Concert for John Kerry: A Change Is Going to Come." The event raised funds for the campaign of presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry and his freshly minted running mate, Sen. John Edwards.
Democratic mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer and former HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo discuss affordable housing during a campaign stop at Kenmore Hall in 2005.
Former Mayor Ed Koch, center, endorses Andrew Cuomo, left, in his bid for the office of New York State attorney general during a news conference on the steps of City Hall.
Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch announces the union's endorsement of Andrew Cuomo for state attorney general during a news conference at PBA offices in lower Manhattan.
Andrew Cuomo waves as he speaks to supporters at Democratic Headquarters in the Sheraton New York Hotel on election night after winning the race for state attorney general over his Republican opponent, Jeanine Pirro.
New York Attorney General Elect Andrew Cuomo, left, joins hands with his father former New York Governor Mario Cuomo during a rally held by New York Democrats, in New York, on Nov. 7, 2006.
Democratic state attorney general candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks outside the 1st Precinct stationhouse on Ericsson Place as incumbent Sen. Hillary Clinton looks on during a campaign stop with labor leaders before tomorrow's general election.
Former congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro, left, speaks during a news conference as Andrew Cuomo, right looks on at City Hall Thursday May 4, 2006 in New York. Ferraro endorsed Cuomo in his run for New York State's Attorney General.
Andrew Cuomo laughs as he sits onstage at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during his swearing-in ceremony as the 64th State Attorney General.
Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks to the press before he marches up Fifth Avenue in the annual Salute to Israel Parade.
Andrew Cuomo, with Sandra Lee, receives the nomination for Governor at the New York State Democratic Committee 2010 State Convention.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks on the steps of City Hall as he receives and endorsement from NARAL Pro-Choice New York.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks on the steps of City Hall as he receives and endorsement from NARAL Pro-Choice New York.
President Bill Clinton with gubenatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo at Klitgord Center, New York City College of Technology.
Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Andrew Cuomo marches at the Salute to Israel parade with daughter Cara on May 23, 2010.
Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks with the Daily News Editorial Board at the Daily News' offices in 2012.
Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks with the Daily News Editorial Board at the Daily News' offices on Jan. 19, 2012.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act on Tuesday, July 17, 2019 in Manhattan, New York as his ex-wife Kerry Kennedy, left, and daughters Cara Kennedy Cuomo and Mariah Kennedy Cuomo.
In this still image from a video, Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference in New York on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. Cuomo has resigned over a barrage of sexual harassment allegations in a fall from grace a year after he was widely hailed nationally for his detailed daily briefings and leadership during the darkest days of COVID-19.
“Chris has not been involved in CNN’s extensive coverage of the allegations against Governor Cuomo, on air or behind the scenes,” the cable network said in a May statement. “In part because, as he has said on his show, he could never be objective. But also because he often serves as a sounding board for his brother.
“However, it was inappropriate to engage in conversations that included members of the Governor’s staff, which Chris acknowledges. He will not participate in such conversations going forward.”
James’ report detailed a series of instances in which Chris collaborated with his brother’s team, including helping to draft a Feb. 28 statement from the governor about the mounting allegations.
