CNN President Chris Licht said during a podcast appearance that he would “absolutely not” rehire former anchor Chris Cuomo to the network.
Podcast host Kara Swisher asked Licht on her podcast, “On” for New York Magazine whether he would bring back Cuomo to CNN. Before Licht’s takeover, CNN executives fired Cuomo from the network in December over his involvement in covering up the sexual assault allegations against his brother, former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“Absolutely not,” Licht said in regards to hiring Cuomo.
Licht brushed off a question about Cuomo’s lawsuit against CNN. The former anchor filed a lawsuit against the network in March alleging they owe him $125 million for wrongfully terminating his employment and accusing Jeff Zucker, the former network president, failed to abide by his contract “by failing to instruct CNN employees not to disparage Cuomo.”
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 26: Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo and Chris Cuomo attend a screening of “RX: Early Detection A Cancer Journey With Sandra Lee” during the 2018 Tribeca Film Festiva at SVA Theatre on April 26, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
“Whatever, I don’t know. It’s not part of my world,” Licht said about the lawsuit. (RELATED: ‘Patently False’: Cuomo, CNN Trade Shots Following Anchor’s Firing)
An investigation opened up against Cuomo’s brother in 2021 after thirteen women publicly accused him of sexually assaulting and inappropriately touching them. Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office released transcripts indicating that Cuomo attempted to acquire information about his brother’s thirteen accusers from his media connections and worked alongside the former governor’s top aide, Melissa DeRosa, to prepare his responses.
His brother resigned in August 2021 over the allegations, though he did not take responsibility.
Cuomo began anchoring a primetime show, “Cuomo, on NewsNation in the Fall 2022.