The journalist started his show Monday, after a week on summer vacation, telling his audience he would have a "note" on his brother, who declared last week he would quit after the release of a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James revealing sexual harassment allegations involving 11 women. Cuomo went on to spend most of his show talking regarding the situation in Afghanistan and the coronavirus pandemic before getting to his personal note.
"Before we wrap up tonight, there is one more thing I do want to say about me, my brother, my family, and you. First, thank you. Thank you for reaching out. I appreciate the concern and the support. I really do. My brother, as you know, resigned as governor of New York and will be stepping down next week," he announced.
GONE TOO SOON: NYPD MOURNS FALLEN OFFICER AFTER FATAL CONFRONTATION, IS BIDEN'S AMERICA TO BLAME?
"There are a lot of people feeling a lot of hurt and a lot of pain right now. My hope is that ultimately, everyone involved can get to a better place. That some higher good will be served in all of this. As for me, I've told you it's never easy being in this business and coming from a political family, especially now. The situation is unlike anything I could have imagined. And yet, I know what matters at work and at home. Everyone knows you support your family. I know and appreciate that you get that. But you should also know I never covered my brother's troubles because I obviously have a conflict, and there are rules at CNN about that," Cuomo went on.
GONE TOO SOON: NYPD MOURNS FALLEN OFFICER AFTER FATAL CONFRONTATION, IS BIDEN'S AMERICA TO BLAME?
"I said last year that his appearances on this show would be short-lived, and they were. The last was over a year ago, long before any kind of scandal. I also said back then that a day would come when he would have to be held to account, and I can't do that. I said point-blank, 'I can't be objective when it comes to my family.' So I never reported on the scandal, and when it happened, I tried to be there for my brother," Cuomo maintained.
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"I'm not an adviser. I'm a brother. I wasn't in control of anything. I was there to listen and offer my take, and my advice to my brother was simple and consistent: Own what you did, tell people what you'll do to be better, be contrite, and finally, accept that it doesn't matter what you intended. What matters is how your actions and words were perceived. And yes, while it was something I never ever imagined having to do, I did urge my brother to resign when the time came," Cuomo said.