CNN's Cuomo Accused of Heinous Sexual Assault, Complete with Tone-Deaf Apology
Just months after his brother finally succumbed to heavy public pressure to resign as Governor of New York, Chris Cuomo is now facing similar accusations of sexual misconduct stemming from workplace incident in 2005.
Andrew Cuomo, the disgraced Empire State Lawmaker, was accused by no less than 9 women of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment during his time in the governor’s mansion. During the public fallout, it was determined that he had reached out to his brother Chris Cuomo, the CNN anchor, in order to pool PR resources – something that the younger Cuomo apologized for on-air.
One has to wonder what sort of apology is on the horizon now.
In a guest essay for the New York Times, former executive producer Shelley Ross outlined an incident where Cuomo, who came under fire this year for giving private advice to his brother New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo during his sexual harassment scandal, squeezed the cheek of her buttock without her permission in 2005. She also produced an email where Chris Cuomo appeared to admit to the incident and apologize for his behavior.
“At the time, I was the executive producer of an ABC entertainment special, but I was Mr. Cuomo’s executive producer at ‘Primetime Live’ just before that,” she wrote. “I was at the party with my husband, who sat behind me on an ottoman sipping his Diet Coke as I spoke with work friends. When Mr. Cuomo entered the Upper West Side bar, he walked toward me and greeted me with a strong bear hug while lowering one hand to firmly grab and squeeze the cheek of my buttock.”
Cuomo’s apology email has also been heavily criticized, as it appears to show more defense to Ross’ husband than to her.
Cuomo, who was 34 at the time of the alleged incident, asked Ross to pass along an apology to her “very good and noble husband,” and also “I apologize to you as well, for even putting you in su]ch a position.” He added he would remember his lesson the next time he was happy to see her.
As of this writing, Cuomo is still employed by CNN.
