CNN’s Chris Cuomo taking birthday vacation as calls for brother’s resignation grow

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo announced that he would be taking a weeklong vacation for his birthday, which comes as his brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), faces growing calls to resign following the bombshell report on sexual harassment allegations against him. 

Chris Cuomo discussed his plans on a Thursday episode of his CNN podcast, “The Handoff,” with co-host Don Lemon, explaining, “Every year I take my birthday week off.” 

“I’m looking forward to it,” added Cuomo, who turns 51 on Monday. 

Cuomo went on to say that Lemon would be joining his wife and children in the Hamptons, telling his co-host, “I’ll be fishing, I’ll be hanging out with you and I’ll be making memories with the kids.”

“I’ll be right here at home because I don’t know why I’d go anywhere else than the East End of Long Island during the summer,” he added. “It’s the most beautiful place in the world.” 

Cuomo, who has not in recent days mentioned his brother or the explosive report from New York Attorney Letitia James’s (D) office on his CNN show, “Cuomo Prime Time,” did not address the allegations on the Thursday podcast.

The bipartisan demands for Andrew Cuomo’s resignation have only ramped up since the release of the report, which found that the governor “sexually harassed current and former New York state employees by engaging in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching and making numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women.” 

The governor has continued to deny the allegations and has refused to step down, despite calls from within his party, including from President Biden, to immediately resign. 

Chris Cuomo has also faced scrutiny in connection with the report, which revealed new details on the level of involvement the CNN host had in helping to craft his brother’s responses to the allegations when they first gained traction in February. 

For example, the report included that Chris Cuomo had emailed suggested lines that were eventually included in his brother’s official February statement responding to the accusations. 

Chris Cuomo was also copied in a series of other emails advising the governor on how to respond to specific allegations from former aide Charlotte Bennett, including telling Andrew Cuomo to “express contrition.” 

While Chris Cuomo previously apologized in May after reports revealed that he had advised his brother on how to answer questions regarding the allegations, he has not publicly addressed the accusations since the release of the report. 

The Hill has reached out to CNN for comment on Chris Cuomo’s vacation plans.