Cuomo Media Blackout: ABC, CBS, NBC avoid $5M payout NY gov is set to receive from COVID book
The liberal networks have a history of avoiding new developments from Cuomo's scandals
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Major networks continue to circle the wagons for former media darling, Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
It was revealed Monday that Cuomo is expected to make a whopping $5.12 million from his coronavirus book deal through 2022, according to his tax returns. In March, it was reported he landed a deal worth more than $4 million for "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic," which was released in October.
However, ABC, CBS and NBC made no reference to the book deal on their evening broadcasts despite airing hours later. The three networks also skipped the controversy on the morning programs the next day.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Additionally, both CNN and MSNBC delayed any mention of Cuomo's multi-million-dollar payout until Tuesday morning after avoiding the subject entirely on Monday.
The book, which has been widely seen as Cuomo's premature victory over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, is at the center of multiple investigations tied to the governor's nursing home scandal. Cuomo faces allegations that his administration sought to bury the state's nursing home death data to paint a rosier picture of his leadership while drafting the memoir. The governor is also accused of allocating government resources and using his taxpayer-funded staff to produce the book.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Last week, all five networks avoided another development in Cuomo's scandals, this time a report from Wall Street Journal that the New York Attorney General's investigation into Cuomo has again expanded. There are new allegations the Cuomo administration attempted to use its vaccine distribution to rally support amid calls for his resignation, as a quid pro quo.
CNN in particular has been put in an awkward position one of its biggest stars, Chris Cuomo, is not only the governor's brother, but he is also involved in one of the administration's scandals.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Cuomo administration was accused of giving members of his own family, including Chris Cuomo, prioritized COVID tests in the early months of the pandemic as ordinary New Yorkers struggled. A top New York physician was even sent to the CNN anchor's residence for hours to conduct such testing.
CNN and the other networks fawned over Cuomo's leadership throughout the pandemic last year while downplaying the brewing nursing home scandal that began last spring.
Cuomo's communications director Rich Azzopardi responded with a statement to Fox News.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"The Governor today released his taxes and filed his financial disclosure form with JCOPE. The notable change from year to year is income from "American Crisis." The contract calls for payment of $3,120,000 in the last taxable year and an additional $2 million over the following 2 years. Net income from the $3,120,000 million payment less expenses and taxes is $1,537,508. From that net income, the Governor donated a third to the United Way of New York State for state-wide COVID relief and vaccination effort, and is giving the remainder in a trust for his three daughters equally who worked with the Governor during this pandemic and did what he calls ‘tireless and effective work for all New Yorkers’ and gave him ‘the strength and love to make it through the crisis every day,’" he said.