NEW YORK (REUTERS) – Former CNN prime-time host Chris Cuomo filed a request for arbitration on Wednesday (March 16), searching for US$125 million (S$170 million) in damages for alleged wrongful termination.
The community fired Mr Cuomo in December, following an inquiry into his efforts to assist his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who had been accused of sexual harassment.
Chris Cuomo maintains that he was clear with CNN about his function as his brother’s confidant, and had “no reason to believe” that this violated the community’s insurance policies.
He additionally claimed that former CNN chief Jeff Zucker and one-time advertising and marketing chief Allison Gollust had themselves offered recommendation to the previous governor.
Details of Mr Chris Cuomo’s help to his brother got here to gentle in November, when the New York State Attorney General launched supplies associated to its investigation of Andrew Cuomo.
The submitting alleges the regulation agency CNN employed to research Mr Chris Cuomo’s function in advising his brother, and a subsequent allegation of sexual misconduct that surfaced in a Dec 1 letter, failed to offer him a chance to clarify what occurred or deal with the girl’s allegations, which he claims are false.
Mr Chris Cuomo’s attorneys additionally argue that CNN was keen to bend its guidelines when it could profit the community, citing the early days of the pandemic, in early 2020, when the community lifted its ban on Mr Chris Cuomo interviewing his brother “to exploit the Cuomo family relationship for its own purposes.”
“As CNN has admitted, network standards were changed in a calculated decision to boost ratings,” mentioned Mr Bryan Freedman, one in every of Mr Chris Cuomo’s attorneys, in a press release.
“When those practices were called into question, Chris was made the scapegoat.”
Representatives of CNN mother or father, AT&T’s WarnerMedia, declined remark.
Ms Risa Heller, a spokeswoman for Mr Zucker and Mr Gollust, beforehand mentioned that “Jeff was never aware of the full extent of what Chris Cuomo was doing for his brother, which is why Chris was fired.”
She mentioned neither Mr Gollust nor Mr Zucker provided recommendation to the previous governor. Both left the community after failing to reveal a consensual relationship.
The post CNN ex-host Chris Cuomo seeks $170 million, alleging wrongful termination first appeared on Umorr.
