Social media slams CNN response to report that Chris Cuomo received special treatment from his brother during COVID outbreak

CNN head of strategic communications Matt Dornic issued a response to the bombshell report earlier in the day that anchor Chris Cuomo received special treatment during the outbreak of the coronavirus from his brother New York Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo.

The network had previously been under fire for Chris Cuomo interviewing his brother the Governor despite a clear conflict of interest, as well as the network mostly ignoring the multiple scandals involving the Governor.

Dornic told Erik Wemple of the Washington Post, "We generally do not get involved in the medical decisions of our employees. However, it is not surprising in the earliest days of a once-in-a-century global pandemic, when Chris was showing symptoms and was concerned about possible spread, he turned to anyone he could for advice and assistance, as any human being would."

Wemple added in a Twitter thread, "In response to the @CNN statement, we've asked whether Chris Cuomo ever disclosed this arrangement. We don't ever remember hearing it mentioned on air. But did he disclose it internally at CNN?"

Wemple conluded the thread with "I am happy that Chris Cuomo made a quick and full recovery. But he needs to step forward and detail whatever special treatment he received via his family connection to the NYS government. This is a big story and his own colleagues are competing for it."

Media personalities and social media pundits immediately slammed the network for seemingly justifying the anchor’s behavior and the tweet and subsequent retweets and comments quickly went viral as Chris Cuomo's name began trending on Twitter.

Governor Cuomo and New York State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker reportedly instructed local health officials to prioritize Cuomo’s family and individuals with links to his administration during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Albany Times Union, sources with direct knowledge of the occurrences told the outlet that family members received multiple tests even when they were scarce. Reportedly, epidemiologist Dr. Eleanor Adams was sent to the Governor’s brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo’s residence in Long Island to test him. The Cuomo Prime Time anchor was diagnosed with the coronavirus on March 31 and according to the Times Union, the test came "at a time when many members of the public struggled to obtain coronavirus tests."

Chris Cuomo defied his own brother's COVID lockdown restrictions and left his home while still recovering from the virus. In April of last year, the CNN anchor was called out by a cyclist for violating the governor's policies.

A source also told the Times Union that these priority tests for family and associates were designated "critical samples" and were processed ahead of other New Yorkers. Those receiving special treatment reportedly included Cuomo’s mother and at least one of the Governor’s sisters.

The Times Union also reported that Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and his wife; and Patrick Foye, head of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authorities, and his wife as well as unnamed media members and state legislators were all bumped to the front of the line for testing in the early days of the pandemic. Richard Azzopardi, one of the Governor’s advisers as well as other Cuomo administration officials denied the allegations. Azzopardi said the claims were "insincere efforts to rewrite the past."

The allegations come as federal authorities are investigating Governor Cuomo and his administration for underreporting and concealing the number of coronavirus deaths in New York nursing home facilities following Cuomo’s order to send COVID positive patients into the facilities. The Governor is also facing calls for his resignation after eight women, including former and current staff, have alleged sexual harassment and misconduct. The claims are being investigated by state agencies.