Chris Cuomo could return to CNN as early as next month following his suspension for secretly helping his brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, try to counter the sexual harassment scandal that made him quit, the network’s chief media correspondent predicted.
During an appearance on CNN’s “New Day” program Wednesday, Brian Stelter said it was a “complicated situation” because despite widespread outrage, “a lot of viewers … love Chris Cuomo and they want to see him back on the air.”
“I think the bottom line is, [Chris] Cuomo is on the bench for now,” he said.
“We’re heading into a holiday season. I think it’s possible he will be on the bench for several weeks. I think it’s possible he’ll be back in January.”
CNN didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
Chris Cuomo has been suspended indefinitely from CNN. Getty Images for SiriusXMThe network announced Tuesday evening that the “Cuomo Prime Time” star had been “indefinitely” suspended “pending further evaluation” of the revelations contained in a trove of documents released by state Attorney General Letitia James as part of her probe into the sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo.
Among other things, the records showed Chris Cuomo acknowledging that he contacted news industry “sources” to get advance information about damaging reports on his big brother.
He also tried to dig up dirt on at least one accuser, Anna Ruch, who was photographed cringing as Andrew Cuomo held both sides of her face at a wedding reception.
CNN’s Brian Stelter thinks it’s possible that Chris Cuomo returns to CNN by January. Getty Images for WarnerMediaCuomo’s suspension was reported on CNN by fellow host Anderson Cooper while sitting next to the network’s chief legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin, who took a leave of absence in October 2020 for getting caught masturbating during an online meeting with staffers from the New Yorker magazine and the WNYC radio station.
Although the New Yorker fired Toobin after 27 years as one of its writers, CNN welcomed him back eight months later.
Shortly after Toobin returned to CNN, he rubbed shoulders with top network execs, hosts and anchors at a party to celebrate the publication of a book written by Stelter.
Additional reporting by Bernadette Hogan
