New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said Monday that his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, is not the only journalist to offer him advice.
The New York Post reported that during a news conference, the governor acknowledged that his brother had advised him on how to publicly address the sexual harassment accusations he faces, then added, “But I talk to journalists about situations all the time, and they tell me their thoughts and their advice.”
A spokesperson for the governor did not immediately respond to questions from The Hill about which journalists have advised Cuomo and on what topics.
The Washington Post first reported last week that Chris Cuomo had joined several conference calls earlier this year to advise his brother on discussing the sexual misconduct allegations facing him.
Since the start of the year, numerous women have accused the governor of sexual misconduct, including inappropriate comments and touching. New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) is investigating the allegations.
The host of “Cuomo Prime Time” reportedly told his brother to be defiant, to refuse to step down and to blame “cancel culture” when answering questions about the allegations.
Chris Cuomo has since apologized on his show for giving his brother public relations advice and said 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. And I never intended for that. I would never intend for that. And I am sorry for that,” he added.
CNN and Chris Cuomo were criticized for conflicts of interest when the governor appeared on “Cuomo Prime Time” during the pandemic. Chris was later implicated in one of the governor’s scandals when a federal criminal investigation was launched to see if the governor provided priority COVID-19 testing for his family and associates, including his brother, during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.