CNN suspends journalist after helping his brother on charges of sexual harassment

CNN said documents issued by New York General Prosecutor on Monday pointed to a larger role in his brother's assistance than television was previously aware.

“As a result of this, we have suspended Chris for an indefinite term, pending further assessment,” said the television network.

CNN's reporter had requested information from several sources on his brother's accusers and had passed the information on to the governor's personnel, as well as had been active in drafting the responses to the charges, according to e-mails and a transcript of his testimony before investigators working for the state attorney General Letia James.

Mr. Cuomo had earlier admitted that he had spoken to his brother and advised him when the governor faced charges of harassment that led to his resignation. But the information released on November 29th revealed much more details about what he had done.

Andrew. Cuomo resigned in August to avoid a possible trial for his dismissal after an investigation led by Mrs. James' office found he had sexually molested at least 11 women.

Mr. Cuomo's program, airing at 9:00 local New York hours from Monday through Friday, is often the most widely watched show on CNN.

Chris Cuomo had interviewed his brother Andrew several times on his show during the first two months of COVID-19. The interviews were much attended by viewers, although they violated CNN's policy that Mr. Cuomo should not report about his brother.

Chris Cuomo had often consulted his brother's assistants when Andrew was facing charges last May and sometimes disagreed with their counsel.

“It's about my brother and I'm trying to help him in a situation in which he told me he had done nothing wrong,” testified Mr. Cuomo last July to investigators at the General Prosecutor's Office.

He said he had done nothing to influence the coverage of the event by his network.

Cuomo also said he had contacted other journalists to find out if they were writing about his brother. He admitted he had not informed CNN that he was doing it and said he characterised his actions as nothing unusual for a journalist.

Critics have called on CNN to take steps after publishing details.

Cuomo, a lawyer by profession, is 13 years younger than Andrew Cuomo, who said he was his best friend. They are the sons of the former New York governor, Mario Cuomo, who served in that post from 1982 to 1996.