CNN’s Chris Cuomo is addressing the coverage of the allegations against his brother New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D).
“Obviously I’m aware of what’s going on with my brother and obviously I cannot cover it because he is my brother. Now, of course, CNN has to cover it,” Chris Cuomo said during his show on Monday night.
He continued, “They have covered it extensively and they will continue to do so. I have always cared very deeply about these issues and profoundly so. I just wanted to tell you that. There’s a lot of news going on that matters also, so let’s get after that.”
Watch his statement below:
>> @ChrisCuomo at the top of @CuomoPrimeTime tonight: "Obviously I am aware of what is going on with my brother. And obviously I cannot cover it because he is my brother. Now, of course CNN has to cover it. They have covered it extensively and they will continue to do so." pic.twitter.com/G49mZYTG4D
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 2, 2021
The governor has come under fire recently for allegedly covering up COVID-19 related nursing home deaths and allegedly sexually harassing former aides.
A report released by New York Attorney General Letitia James last month found Andrew Cuomo’s administration undercounted the number of COVID-19 related deaths in nursing homes by as much as 50%, as IJR reported.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights and Civil division are conducting two investigations into the nursing home matter while the Brooklyn-based U.S. attorney’s office conducts the third.
Three women have now come forward with allegations of unwanted advances by Andrew Cuomo.
On Monday, Anna Ruch told The New York Times that during a wedding reception in 2019 the governor placed his hands on her cheeks and “asked if he could kiss her,” as the Times reports.
Former aides Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett also accused Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment.
James said Monday her office will be formally proceeding with the investigation into the sexual harassment allegations.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Elkan Abramowitz, a former federal prosecutor, said he would defend Andrew Cuomo and his top aides amid the nursing home scandal and sexual harassment allegations, as IJR reported.
The governor released a statement on Sunday and apologized for his behavior.
“I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that,” Andrew Cuomo said.
He added, “I never inappropriately touched anybody, and I never propositioned anybody, and I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable.”