‘You Need to Trust Me’: CNN’s Cuomo Directed Brother’s PR Response

Newly released information will be available Monday investigative documents from the New York Attorney General’s office further exposed just how early and involved CNN Prime Time host Chris Cuomo was working with his brother, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office to cook up public statements in response to his sexual misconduct scandal, and exploit his sources to dig up leads on accusers and then-upcoming stories about them. He even begged Andrew’s aides “You need to trust me” for his brother’s career to be saved.

As NewsBusters reported previously back in August, Chris had lied to his viewers about his role in crafting his brother’s public responses to the allegations against him. “I’m not an adviser,” he said at the time. “I was not in charge of any aspect. My role was to offer advice and listen to my brother. It was straightforward and constant.”

However, the text exchange between DeRosa and Melissa DeRosa was a betrayal of his honesty. In early March, he pleaded with DeRosa: “I’m here to help you..” A few days prior, the Governor’s executive office apparently butchered Chris’s statement for them You sent an e-mail to the address and requested another.

“Goddam […]My panic attacks are constant […]Ich sehe dein Name […]Talk is dangerous […] I worry abt this ‘if investigation proves allegations he has to go,’” he wrote to DeRosa.

The texts also show how Chris used his network of journalistic sources to make moves against at least one of his brother’s accusers, “wedding girl,” and snoop on other media outlets and journalists rumored to be publishing new allegations, including Politico:

Chris and DeRosa were particularly interested in Ronan Farrow’s reporting over several days.

DeRosa requested this snooping and Chris did it seemingly spontaneously.

Also revealed was how a 14-minute long rant by actor Alec Baldwin against “cancel culture” defending Andrew was spurred by a mutual friend he and Chris shared. “It was a request from a friend. [REDACTED] […]He is very close to me” he told DeRosa. As the AG’s investigation Reported back in May, blaming “cancel culture” for the flood of accusers was Chris’s idea.

Another example of Chris’s interconnectedness in his work with the executive officer is a text exchange that shows DeRosa and Chris feeling a little relieved by the way New York Democrats are using their spin. “[Assembly Speaker Carl E.] Heastie [D] used our language at least,” he told her on March 7.

Andrew was being urged to resign by many state Democrats Heastie’s statement from that day says: “We have many challenges to address, and I think it is time for the Governor to seriously consider whether he can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York.”

Despite this close working relationship with DeRosa and their shared desire of “no resign,” Chris kept getting blindsided by media reports that the executive office knew were coming. “Stop Hiding shit,” he scolded her, warning “We are making mistakes we can’t afford.”

Following that exchange, he directed DeRosa to “delete thread now.”

An accompanying transcript of his sworn testimony to investigators, Chris explained that demand saying, “I have a constant and consistent concern about being hacked or someone obtaining my device and violating the trust of people who have put their trust in me.”

Interestingly, Chris was the one with trust issues when he doesn’t have a problem with lying to his viewers.

CNN has released a statement about these revelations stating that the “additional transcripts and exhibits … deserve a thorough review and consideration.” And that the network would be “having conversations and seeking additional clarity about their significance as they relate to CNN over the next several days.”

CNN representative says they will have conversations with Chris Cuomo to get more clarity on the revelations about Chris Cuomo pic.twitter.com/xkeFghL0lR

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 29, 2021

CNN has not directly responded to NewsBusters’ request for comment and answers to important questions regarding Chris Cuomo’s conduct in this situation.