CNN said Allison Gollust, its executive VP and chief marketing officer, has resigned after an investigation into issues surrounding former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his brother, former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, found she violated CNN's news standards and practices.

CNN said former network chief Jeff Zucker also violated standards and practices. Zucker resigned on February 2 with an admission that he had failed to disclose an intimate relationship with Gollust, who reported to him.

WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar disclosed the findings and Gollust's resignation in an internal memo. CNN anchor Brian Stelter tweeted the memo, which stated that an investigation by a third-party law firm, Cravath, and led by a former judge "was comprehensive and definitive" and found violations of company policies.

Stelter further reported that Gollust responded by telling colleagues in an email: "WarnerMedia's statement tonight is an attempt to retaliate against me and change the media narrative in the wake of their disastrous handling of the last two weeks. It is deeply disappointing that after spending the past nine years defending and upholding CNN's highest standards of journalistic integrity, I would be treated this way as I leave," Gollust said. "But I do so with my head held high, knowing that I gave my heart and soul to working with the finest journalists in the world."

Gollust joined CNN in 2013, reuniting there with CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker, for whom she headed corporate communications while Zucker was CEO of NBCUniversal. Before joining CNN she worked as communications director for Governor Cuomo.

CNN is in the process of being spun off with other WarnerMedia assets and sold to Discovery.

The New York Times also published a story about the investigation into Chris Cuomo and Zucker, including that CNN had received a letter from a lawyer representing a former colleague of Cuomo's at ABC News. The former colleague claimed that Cuomo had sexually assaulted her and that "Mr. Cuomo had tried to keep her quiet by arranging a flattering CNN segment about her employer at the time." Days after receiving the letter, Zucker fired Cuomo, the Times said, adding that a spokesman for Cuomo denied the allegations. Zucker then resigned two months later. ■

CNN has indefinitely suspended anchor Chris Cuomo, one of its top-rated news personalities, following the release of documents that CNN Business characterized as indicating Cuomo was "more intimately involved than previously known" in his brother's, then New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's, defense of allegations of sexual misconduct.

Chris Cuomo had acknowledged he had been involved in his brother's defense, but CNN signaled the documents changed the equation, and not in Chris Cuomo's favor.

"The New York Attorney General's office released transcripts and exhibits Monday that shed new light on Chris Cuomo's involvement in his brother's defense," said a CNN spokesperson according to the network's website. "The documents, which we were not privy to before their public release, raise serious questions."

Also: Chris Cuomo Accused of Sexual Harassment

CNN said that while Cuomo's advice to his brother broke its rules, it had recognized his unique position and his desire to put "family first and job second."

But the documents suggest greater involvement in the governor's defense efforts than they had been informed so he was suspended "pending further evaluation."

The new documents were part of a rolling release these week of more transcripts and video from New York Attorney General Letitia James' investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the now former governor. ■

News networks had some new video Saturday (Aug. 7) related to the ongoing sexual harassment claims against embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Albany Sherriff Craig Apple held a press conference to say a female victim--initially only identified as "executive assistant #1"--had come forward to make an allegation of sexually related criminal conduct against the governor. He said his office was not politicizing the complaint, but instead doing everything in their power to help the victim.

On Sunday, CBS was promoting an exclusive interview with Brittany Commisso, who identified herself as executive assistant #1 and said there had been unwanted hugs and kisses.

"We will cooperate fully with the Albany sheriff and turn over all evidence related to this complainant. Similarly, we will cooperate with all law enforcement agencies, as appropriate," said a spokesperson for New York State Attorney General Letitia James in a statement e-mailed to Multichannel News. James last week released a report by investigators of 11 sexual harassment complaints--including Commisso's--against Cuomo saying there was a "mountain of evidence" to support those claims.

Cuomo has challenged the report and vowed to stay in office.

The governor's brother, CNN anchor/host Chris Cuomo, announced last week he would be taking a previously scheduled vacation this week, reportedly saying on a podcast that he traditionally takes his birthday (Aug. 9) week off. He has steered clear of reporting on his brother or the report, which has drawn some pushback, including mocking from Stephen Colbert.

Back in May, Cuomo apologized after The Washington Post reported that the anchor had participated in strategy sessions with his brother on how he should respond to allegations of sexual harassment.

CNN and anchor Chris Cuomo have apologized after The Washington Post reported that the anchor had participated in strategy sessions with his brother, embattled Andrew Cuomo, on how he should respond to allegations of sexual harassment.

The paper reported that Chris Cuomo had advised his brother was on a series of conference calls with the governor, aides, lawyers and others and encouraged his brother not to resign and used the term "cancel culture" as a reason not to leave.

According to a story on CNN's web site about the conference calls, the network has said his participation was "inappropriate" and improper, but said he will not face any disciplinary consequences.

"[I]t was inappropriate to engage in conversations that included members of the Governor's staff, which Chris acknowledges," CNN said.

Cuomo apologized on his Thursday night show, but suggested he was apologizing for how it impacted others: "It will not happen again. It was a mistake, because I put my colleagues here, who I believe are the best in the business, in a bad spot. I never intended for that, I would never intend for that, and I am sorry for that."

Cuomo took some heat for interviewing his brother earlier in the pandemic, CNN waived its policy against that at the time--but Cuomo said he would not cover the sexual harassment story because it was impossible for him to be objective. Some argued at the time that it had been impossible for him to be objective in his earlier interactions with his brother, when Andrew Cuomo was being hailed as the face and voice of reason in daily press conferences about the pandemic.

The brothers Cuomo had a few moments of "serious" levity Thursday (April 2) at Governor Andrew Cuomo's televised daily COVID-19 status briefing. Brother Chris, the CNN anchor/host, has tested positive for the virus and is in "basement" quarantine.

Governor Cuomo said that because many people had asked how Chris was doing, he thought he would let Chris provide the answer himself remotely, turning the table to become the interviewer. 

What ensued in the next few minutes is clearly going to be an iconic moment in the family history, and made for entertaining TV amid the grim reality of the surrounding New York environs. 

Chris Cuomo said he had had a fever-induced hallucination in which the Governor appeared to him in a dream in "a very interesting ballet outfit." He said his brother was dancing and "waving a wand and saying: 'I wish I could wave my wand and make this go away,' and then you spun around and you danced away." 

A smiling governor Cuomo thanked him for that update, and suggested that there was "a lot of metaphoric reality in that one." A goofily chuckling Chris responded: "I can't get that picture out of my head."  

"Obviously the fever has affected your mental capacity," the governor joked. That and likely a dose of cabin fever as well, given his response. "And being alone all the time," Chris responded, adding "I think everything I say is funny," and breaking into giggles. Brother Andrew then gently asked Chris if he still had a fever.  

"I have a fever right this instant, governor," he said. 

Perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) closed her press conference Thursday--about setting up a committee to look into the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic--with the following advice: "Don't forget: Hydrate, wash your hands, pray, [and] dance as if no one is watching." 

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed an executive order that mandates net neutrality in state contracts for broadband service.

That follows a similar order signed earlier this week by Montana's Gov. Steve Bullock, also a Democrat.

The New York order's "whereas" clauses include a knock on the FCC and the ISPs who support the FCC's network neutrality regulations rollback: "Whereas the FCC recently chose to do away with fee and open internet protections in order to satisfy corporate interests that are not aligned with those of New Yorkers," it says.

On Dec. 14, a divided FCC -- the Democrats fiercely dissented -- voted to eliminate the FCC's rules against blocking, throttling and paid prioritization of internet traffic, saying the Federal Trade Commission could enforce any violations of fairness or competitiveness in the delivery of broadband service. ISPs have almost universally pledged not to block or throttle, while leaving the option open of paid prioritization.

The New York order requires that contractors adhere to network neutrality principles, defined as: "ISPs will not block, throttle, or prioritize internet content or applications or require that end users pay different or higher rates to access specific types of content or applications."

State entities can only enter into contracts with ISPs who sign that pledge, as it were.

The order affects any new contracts or contract renewals after March 1, 2018.

As a strike by more than 1,700 union-member employees of Charter Communications' Spectrum cable and broadband operations in the New York City area passes the six-month mark, a union-backed demonstration Monday in Brooklyn and Manhattan drew thousands of the sidelined workers and their supporters, news outlets reported. The hashtag #SpectrumStrike was a top trend in New York City Monday afternoon.

The strike, largely over economic issues such as pension and health-care benefits, is with Local 3 of the IBEW, which called for the demonstration. News reports and photos on social media showed attendance by members of several other unions, though, and speakers included New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio along with other elected officials. "You attack one, you attack all of us," the IBEW quoted the Democratic governor as declaring at a rally at City Hall Park in lower Manhattan.

READ MORE: More Outages as Charter, Union Continue Stalemate

During the strike, there have been outages said to be from more 100 cuts to fiber optics, which Charter pointed out was reported again Monday by the local CBS News station in a piece that also criticized Cuomo and de Blasio for backing the strikers. (Spectrum News NY1, the local Charter-owned news outlet, did not appear to have any links to coverage of the demonstration on its home page or its Twitter feed Monday evening.) 

The ralliers first assembled on the Brooklyn side of the East River and marched across the Brooklyn Bridge. Some on Twitter said as many as 10,000 people attended the demonstration and march. 

The photo above was tweeted by Staten Island borough president James Oddo, a Republican, who also tweeted, "Hey 84 SI families impacted by #spectrumstrike you have lots of support here in Brooklyn. #nowitsafight nowitsafight."

READ MORE:New York Mayor Offers Help in Charter Strike Talks

A Spectrum spokesman released the following statement: "By keeping bargaining unit employees out of work, Local 3 is denying them an average wage increase of 22 percent — some employees up to 55 percent — and also denying them excellent health and retirement benefits, including a 401(k) savings plan with a dollar-for-dollar match up to 6 percent of eligible pay. This will have a positive, lasting impact on employees’ standard of living and allows us to grow a well-paid, highly skilled workforce for the benefit of our customers."

As MCN has reported previously, IBEW Local 3 has been without a contract since 2013. According to reports the union has said since Charter took over Time Warner Cable the company has tried to stop contributing to member pension and health plans; Charter has denied the pension claims. The union also claims that Charter wants to eliminate overtime pay on weekends and reduce the number of paid holidays, and give it greater flexibility to subcontract work normally done by bargaining unit employees.