1 December 2021: Ding Dong, Another Cuomo is Gone

CNN's Chris Cuomo suspended over role in ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo's sex scandal

Ding dong, another Cuomo is gone.

Well, not quite, seeing as we're talking about CNN. This is the same news organization that suspended Jeffrey Toobin after he sexually harassed the video attendees of a Zoom conference call, but then allowed him back on air after eight months because deep down, CNN's managers and editors seem okay with that kind of behavior. Unlike say, the New Yorker, whose employees were on that call, who took the matter more seriously and fired Toobin.

But that's a different story about the ethics CNN's managers and editors, so let's get to the story about Chris Cuomo being "indefinitely suspended":

CNN on Tuesday suspended its top news anchor, Chris Cuomo, for his role in defending his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, over sexual harassment allegations.

The cable news channel said in a statement the suspension followed the release of new court documents on Monday.

"These documents point to a greater level of involvement in his brother’s efforts than we previously knew. As a result, we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation,” CNN said.

For its part, CNN handled the story badly on air, as can be seen in the following one minute video embedded in a Twitter post featuring Anderson Cooper reading a statement from the network:

Ahead of taking over Chris Cuomo's timeslot with a second hour of AC360, Anderson reads the statement from CNN on Cuomo's indefinite suspension. pic.twitter.com/e7mRsWyJVP

— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) December 1, 2021

That was Jeffrey Toobin's face you saw in the right hand side of the screen when it was split into three parts. That's an indication CNN's managers and editors are still not yet taking the matter seriously enough.

The "second hour of 360" is CNN's initial solution to how to fill the hole in its schedule left by Chris Cuomo's "indefinite" suspension, with Anderson Cooper's show being extended by one hour.

ABC producer who accused Chris Cuomo of harassment calls CNN suspension 'meaningless', predicts he’ll be back

We're not alone in questioning CNN's suspension of Chris Cuomo for journalistic misconduct:

Shelley Ross, the veteran TV producer who accused Chris Cuomo of sexual harassment, suggested CNN's suspension of its star anchor isn't enough to hold him accountable for his involvement in his brother's scandals.

"There is more to accountability than a suspension," Ross told Fox News. "Chris Cuomo has always maintained he was not an adviser, he was a brother. He lied to CNN and his viewers. He needs to publicly acknowledge his wrongdoing to women, to victims of sexual harassment, assault and gender bias, to his colleagues, to the other journalists he compromised or tried to, and to the viewers he misled."...

She knocked CNN over its statement announcing it was "indefinitely" suspending Cuomo, calling it a "meaningless word" to the network.

"When he’s invited back, he still should be assigned a series on sexual harassment and ethics in the workplace," Ross said.

Fox News asked Ross if her comments meant she did not expect Cuomo to be fired as a result, to which she replied, "No, given CNN's great depth of forgiveness of sex offenses."

We anticipate a full housecleaning at CNN will become necessary by the time the news network's new owners, Discovery Communications, takes possession of the broadcast news outlet in mid-2022.