Michael R. Sisak, Marina Villeneuve
NEW YORK — Transcripts released Monday shed new light on Behind-the scenes role of CNN anchor Chris CuomoHe advised his brother Former New York Governor Andrew CuomoFaced with sexual harassment allegations, he was forced to resign.
Chris CuomoInvestigators were told that he talked regularly with his brother, sent text messages to his top advisors, and was looped into emails in February and March while they prepared a response for multiple women’s allegations.
He offered his assistance in trying to find out more through his website. “sources”Whether more women will come forward and if so, how they might find their identities.
Chris Cuomo played an unofficial role in his brother’s life. After some details of his work were highlighted in an August report by state Attorney General Letitia James, the journalist acknowledged it was a “mistake”to have taken part in strategy calls with his brother’s advisors.
But a transcript of Chris Cuomo’s July interview with investigators, as well as the release of 169 pages of emails, text messages and other communications offer more detail on his involvement in shaping his brother’s message — and acting as a bulldog sparring with top aides over strategy.
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“I was worried that this wasn’t being handled the right way, and it’s not my job to handle it, okay?” Chris Cuomo testified. “I don’t work for the governor. I’m not defending him in this matter. I’m not covering it. You know, this is — this is not what I do.”
“I am worried about my brother and worried that this is being handled the best way it can. And my feeling was that, to my basic mantra, you need to tell the truth and get in front of these if you have something to say. And if you have something to own, you need to do that as well,”He said.
Andrew Cuomo resigned in August to avoid a likely impeachment trial, in the wake of an independent investigation that found he sexually harassed at least 11 women.
Chris Cuomo hosts CNN’s “Cuomo Prime Time,”He defended himself, saying that he didn’t report on Cuomo for CNN and did not try to influence coverage.
“I tried to do the right thing,”The host stated that August was his eighth broadcast and added that he “wasn’t in control of anything.”
CNN representatives did not respond to a message seeking comment.
The transcript of Chris Cuomo’s interview was included in a new batch released Monday by Attorney General’s Office. These materials were collected during the long-running investigation into governor’s conduct towards women.
A copy Gov. Cuomo gave his video testimony for the first-time. The transcripts had been previously released to the public.
The attorney general also released transcripts and videos of interviews with Cuomo’s key aides.
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Melissa DeRosa (the governor’s former top advisor) cried while she shared with investigators about a tension conservation she had in a car along with Cuomo. Bennett stated that Cuomo made her uncomfortable with unwelcome comments about the experience she had as a victim of sexual assault.
“I can’t believe you put yourself in a situation where you would be having any version of this conversation,”DeRosa recalled what she had said to Cuomo.
DeRosa stated that the car stopped at the traffic light and she got out.
DeRosa stated that after Bennett’s allegations, Cuomo’s office did not leave Cuomo with his junior staff.
DeRosa said that the change was comparable to the “Graham-Pence”Rule refers to the former U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence’s rule of not eating alone with any woman but his wife. This policy was inspired in part by Billy Graham’s preaching.
“She thought that it was important that there were always two people together, if it was a junior staff person, so that there couldn’t be any misperceptions or any conversations that could happen,”DeRosa referred to former special counsel Judith Mogul.
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