Chris Cuomo files $125 million arbitration, says CNN firing has damaged him 'in countless ways'
Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo filed a $125 million arbitration against the cable news network Wednesday, alleging his firing from the network was unjustified and has “damaged” his professional reputation.
The filing, which also names CNN America and Turner Services, states the arbitration’s multimillion-dollar price tag covers Cuomo’s “remaining salary” under his employment agreement, as well as “future wages lost as a result of CNN’s efforts to destroy his reputation,” according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.
CNN suspended and later fired Cuomo in December 2021 after the New York Attorney General's office released records showing that Cuomo used his media “sources” and “other journalists” to look into the women who accused his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, of sexual harassment.
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“As a result of Turner’s indefensible choice to unceremoniously fire him, Cuomo has been damaged in countless ways,” the filing states. “Cuomo has had his journalistic integrity unjustifiably smeared, making it difficult if not impossible for Cuomo to find similar work in the future.”
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Cuomo's lawyer Bryan Freedman said it's "obvious" that "Chris Cuomo did not lie to CNN about helping his brother." He added that "limited information released from Warner Media’s investigation makes clear, CNN’s highest-level executives not only knew about Chris’ involvement in helping his brother but also actively assisted the governor, both through Chris and directly themselves.”
CNN declined to comment on Cuomo’s filing, a network spokesperson told USA TODAY.
The filing states CNN executives “had been fully aware of the extent and nature of Cuomo’s assistance to his brother,” including acting as a “sounding board” for former Gov. Cuomo during the sexual assault allegations.
“Cuomo fully complied with CNN’s standards and practices, including by keeping CNN executives apprised of his actions at all times,” the filing states. “Turner’s unjustifiable termination of Cuomo reflects nothing more than an apparent rush to judgment and caving to uninformed public and internal pressure that was based on speculation and assumption rather than facts and evidence.”
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During former Gov. Cuomo’s tenure as “a widely popular leader in the Democratic Party,” the filing adds that CNN “was more than happy to benefit from the connection between the governor and CNN’s most popular news anchor,” especially during “the early days of the global COVID-19 pandemic.”
Cuomo interviewed his big brother on CNN nine times — a temporary lift of the network's policy that Cuomo could not participate in stories concerning the former governor. The policy was reinstated in February 2021 when former Gov. Cuomo was questioned about his administration's role in withholding the true number of COVID-19 nursing home deaths in New York.
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“Gov. Cuomo became a media darling because of his decisive leadership in response to the public health crisis,” the filing states. “Despite Cuomo’s and Gov. Cuomo’s expressed reservations, CNN demanded through its leadership that Cuomo interview Gov. Cuomo frequently.”
Cuomo also alleges that former CNN chief Jeff Zucker and former CNN executive Allison Gollust “acted as advisors” to the former New York governor at the beginning of the pandemic, offering “talking points and strategies for responding to statements made by then-President Donald Trump.” “There is no question that, given the ratings and value Gov. Cuomo was generating for CNN, protecting him and his reputation was in CNN’s best interests,” the filing states.
Zucker resigned from his position at CNN in February after it was revealed he had a sexual relationship with Gollust, a top executive at the cable news network. Two weeks following Zucker’s resignation, Gollust also resigned from her position after a third-party investigation found that she, along with Zucker and Cuomo, violated company policies.
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Cuomo’s employment agreement was also allegedly breached when Zucker failed to “instruct CNN employees not to disparage Cuomo” on the air, the filing states, citing coverage by CNN anchors Don Lemon, Jake Tapper and Brian Stelter. “This campaign led to widespread news coverage that ultimately made Cuomo an outcast from the world of journalism,” the filing states.
Cuomo also dragged two of his former colleagues into his complaint, saying Lemon and Tapper were never disciplined for incidents seen as ethical lapses — Lemon texting Jussie Smollett when the actor was accused of making false allegations of a racist attack, and Tapper allegedly offering advice to a politician.
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Contributing: Amy Haneline, Gary Levin, Charles Trepany, USA TODAY; David Bauder, The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Cuomo hits CNN with $125 million arbitration for firing
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