Chris Cuomo's Former Producer and Boss Alleges That Cuomo Sexually Harassed Her, Groped Her

I guess this is why Mario Cuomo was saying, "Ayyyy, all Italians see with their hands, fuggedabouddit, ayyy!"

Oh, and she says Cuomo admitted groping her in an email.

I was Chris Cuomo's boss at ABC News nearly two decades ago, and I am a regular viewer of CNN today, so I've long watched how he communicates on camera and witnessed at times how he behaved behind the scenes. This year, as he escaped accountability for advising former Gov. Andrew Cuomo during his sexual harassment scandal, two moments crystallized for me how Mr. Cuomo performs.

The first was on March 1, two days before Governor Cuomo publicly addressed the sexual harassment allegations made against him by three women and apologized for acting "in a way that made people feel uncomfortable" but denied touching anyone inappropriately. On "Cuomo Prime Time," Mr. Cuomo explained to his CNN viewers that because of the sexual harassment scandal, he would no longer be covering or interviewing his brother, as he frequently did during the first Covid-19 surge. With an expression of great sincerity, he said, "I have always cared very deeply about these issues and profoundly so. I just wanted to tell you that."

The second moment came this Labor Day weekend, after Governor Cuomo had resigned and as his loyal confidants and outside advisers were losing their own influential jobs in the fallout. There was Mr. Cuomo in the Hamptons, appearing in a photo wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the word "Truth."

For me, his statement of profound concern about sexual harassment and his "Truth" T-shirt were provocations in this era of personal accountability.

So here's another moment involving Mr. Cuomo, the one that stands out most in my experience with him.

"Now that I think of it... I am ashamed," read the subject line of a 2005 email Mr. Cuomo wrote me, one hour after he sexually harassed me at a going-away party for an ABC colleague. At the time, I was the executive producer of an ABC entertainment special, but I was Mr. Cuomo's executive producer at "Primetime Live" just before that. I was at the party with my husband, who sat behind me on an ottoman sipping his Diet Coke as I spoke with work friends. When Mr. Cuomo entered the Upper West Side bar, he walked toward me and greeted me with a strong bear hug while lowering one hand to firmly grab and squeeze the cheek of my buttock.

"I can do this now that you're no longer my boss," he said to me with a kind of cocky arrogance. "No you can't," I said, pushing him off me at the chest while stepping back, revealing my husband, who had seen the entire episode at close range. We quickly left.

Soon after, I received the email from Mr. Cuomo about being "ashamed." He should have been. But my question today is the same as it was then: Was he ashamed of what he did, or was he embarrassed because my husband saw it? (He apologized first in his email to my "very good and noble husband" and then to me for "even putting you in such a position.") Mr. Cuomo may say this is a sincere apology. I've always seen it as an attempt to provide himself with legal and moral coverage to evade accountability.

Now, given Mr. Cuomo’s role as a supporter of and counselor to his brother, I am left again wondering about his relationship with truth and accountability. Has this man always cared "deeply" and "profoundly" about sexual harassment issues? Does he believe enough in accountability to step up and take some meaningful actions?

Ayyy, all Italians grab the buttocks! Doesn't matter if it's old or young, male or female, straight or gay! We're always saying (honk) hey how you doin', (honk honk) is your family okay?

It's part of our culture! Ayyy! Gabbaguul! Riggote! Stugatz!

And don't forget: Don Lemon is credibly accused of a particularly gross and humiliating sexual assault (on a straight man) as well.

But CNN is totally on the side of the victims of sexual assault you guys.

posted by Ace at 12:20 PM

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