Primetime CNN host Chris Cuomo apologized to his colleagues on air Thursday night after it was revealed that he advised his Governor Andrew Cuomo on how to deal with sex scandals while continuing to cover his brother on his show. Cuomo's apology was for putting colleagues in "a bad spot."
"I put my colleagues here who I believe are the best in the business in a bad spot," Chris Cuomo said.
"If you'll remember, I told you back in the beginning of March, I can't cover my brother's troubles. It wouldn't be fair," Cuomo said in reference to the New York Governor’s sexual assault and nursing home death scandals.
"You got it then and I appreciate you understanding now," Cuomo continued.
"Today there are stories out there about me offering my brother advice. Of course I do. This is no revelation. I have said it publicly and I certainly have never hidden it," Cuomo said.
"I can be objective about any topic. But not about my family. Those of you who watch this show, get it. Like you I bet, my family means everything to me and I am fiercely loyal to them," Cuomo added. "I'm family first, job second."
The CNN host went on to address the difficulties he faces being a journalist with a brother in politics.
"Being a journalist and a brother to a politician is unique and a unique challenge. And I have a unique responsibility to balance those roles," Cuomo said. "It's not always easy, but people can say and write what they want."
"But I want you to know the truth. How I helped my brother also matters. When my brother's situation became turbulent, being looped into calls with other friends of his and advisors, that did include some of his staff, I understand why that was a problem for CNN," Cumo explained.
"It will not happen again. It was a mistake because I put my colleagues here who I believe are the best in the business in a bad spot. I never intended for that. I would never intend for that. And I am sorry for that," Cuomo said during his show Thursday night.
Despite being one of the most well-known faces of CNN, Chris Cuomo said that he, "never tried to influence this networks coverage of my brother."
"I love my brother. I love my family. I love my job and I love and respect my colleagues here at CNN and again, to them, I am truly sorry," Cuomo added.
During the early days of the pandemic, Chris Cuomo often had his brother on the show, whether to joke around about giant cotton swabs or just to engage in some sibling rivalry. Gov. Cuomo was a Democrat darling, and the delight many felt as regards his overly philosophical press conferences garnered the governor an International Emmy Award.
Since those salad days, the governor has faced sexual harassment scandals with accusations from some ten women, an investigation into his handling of the public nursing homes in New York state, which saw excess deaths of 15,000 elderly attributable to his policies, and an inquiry into whether he used state resources and staff to aid in the writing of his pandemic memoir.