Chris Cuomo Offered His 'Sources' to Learn if More Women Would Accuse Brother of Harassment

With the investigation into former New York Governor Anthony Cuomo ongoing, more is being brought to light regarding his brother Chris's involvement.

In transcripts obtained by the Associated Press, the CNN anchor helped advise and assist in his brother's responses to the sexual harassment allegations brought against him earlier this year. He also offered to find out through his "sources" whether more women were considering coming forward. While the exact details of what these sources could provide, the Associated Press did report that these involved finding out the identities of the accusers.

In July 2021, Chris Cuomo talked to investigators headed by Attorney General Letitia James about his involvement in his brother's acts. He discussed being "worried that [the] investigation wasn't being handled the right way" throughout the testimony.

"It's not my job to handle it, okay?" Chris Cuomo said. "I don't work for the governor. I'm not defending him in this matter. I'm not covering it. You know, this is—this is not what I do."

He also regretted taking part in strategy calls, while also wanting to help his brother Andrew get the truth out regarding his allegations.

"My feeling was that, to my basic mantra, you need to tell the truth and get in front of these if you have something to say," he told investigators. "And if you have something to own, you need to do that as well."

Chris Cuomo maintains that he never tried to influence news coverage about Andrew's allegations, saying that he "wasn't in control of anything" when discussing the case on-air in August. Andrew Cuomo resigned as New York Governor in August as a result of the allegations made against him.

For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below:

The release of 169 pages of pages, text messages, and other communications offer more detail on his involvement in shaping his brother's message—and acting as a bulldog sparring with top aides over strategy.

A message to CNN representatives for comment was not immediately returned.

The transcript of Chris Cuomo's interview was part of a new batch of materials released Monday by the attorney general's office, gathered during its monthslong investigation into the governor's conduct with women.

A copy of Governor Cuomo's video testimony was released for the first time. Transcripts of it had previously been made public.

The attorney general also released transcripts or videos of interviews with several of Cuomo's key aides and advisors, who described their efforts to defend him against harassment allegations.

The governor's former top aide, Melissa DeRosa, wiped away tears as she told investigators about a tense conservation she had in a car with Cuomo when she confronted him about his interactions with a former aide, Charlotte Bennett, who said she felt like the governor was hitting on her. Bennett said he also made her uncomfortable with unwanted comments about her experience as a sexual assault survivor.

"I can't believe you put yourself in a situation where you would be having any version of this conversation," DeRosa said, recalling what she said to Cuomo.

DeRosa said the car stopped at a traffic light and she got out of the car.

DeRosa said after Bennett's allegations, the governor's office no longer left Cuomo alone with junior staff.

DeRosa testified that the change was similar to the "Graham-Pence" rule, referring to former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's practice of never eating alone with a woman other than his wife. That policy was inspired by former Evangelist Billy Graham's preaching.

"She thought that it was important that there were always two people together if it was a junior staff person so that there couldn't be any misperceptions or any conversations that could happen," DeRosa said, referring to former special counsel Judith Mogul.