There were two different yet related forms of bias by omission during the broadcast evening newscasts Monday night. While CBS Evening News ignored the New York attorney general’s office releasing thousands of pages of documents and hours of video testimony from the investigation into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), ABC’s World News Tonight ignored how that evidence exposed the role of their former reporter, CNN’s Chris "Fredo" Cuomo played in coordinating the response from his brother’s PR team.
Instead of reporting on the newly released evidence against Andrew, CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell spent over two minutes (2:12) hyping Cyber Monday deals. She also gushed about the Christmas decorations at the White House (19 seconds). She also ignored the start of the trial against actor Jussie Smollett for his hate crime hoax.
Meanwhile, over on ABC, correspondent Trevor Ault was playing soundbites from Andrew’s testimony to investigators:
INVESTIGATOR: Have you ever had any inappropriate relationships with women on your staff?
[Transition]
ANDREW CUOMO: Inappropriate, I assume, means a sexual relationship with women on my staff? The answer is no.
“Today, the New York attorney general releasing nearly nine hours of video testimony over 11 hours of questioning, recorded in July as part of their investigation, which found Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women, leading to his resignation,” he reported.
Adding: “The attorney general's report said they found Cuomo's ‘Denials to lack credibility and to be inconsistent with the weight of the evidence obtained during our investigation.’”
Over on NBC, chief environmental affairs correspondent Anne Thompson selected even grosser soundbites from Andrew’s interview with investigators to share with viewers:
INVESTIGATOR: You understand what a girlfriend is?
CUOMO: Girlfriend means different things to different people.
But the part where Thompson’s report differed from Ault’s was mentioning the crucial evidence of how Chris had worked closely with a top aide to his brother, Melissa DeRosa crafting the responses, feeding talking points to allies, and most disturbingly exploiting his journalistic connections and sources to snoop on other media outlets publishing accusation and dig up dirt on at least one accuser.
“Today's release also includes an interview with his brother CNN's Chris Cuomo and text messages showing he tried to help the Governor's staff by checking his sources about new accusers,” Thompson reported. “Tonight, CNN says it will review the attorney general's documents and have conversations over the next few days about how they relate to CNN.”
And NBC felt it was such an important part of the story that anchor Lester Holt even teased it at the top of the program. “New video of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo testifying in his sexual harassment investigation. The tense exchanges and what documents reveal about news anchor Chris Cuomo's role in defending his brother,” he said.
One would think ABC and CBS would be appalled that one of their media colleagues would act in such a way that blew up journalistic ethics. Says a lot about them too.
These Grade-A example of bias by omission were made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Progressive on ABC and Liberty Mutual on CBS. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
November 29, 2021
6:39:58 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: In the meantime, the other news this Monday night, New York's attorney general going public with a trove of new evidence from the investigation into sexual harassment involving former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Newly emerging evidence, because we're seeing it for the first time, the video of hours of testimony. Tonight, you will hear him answering the questions and testimony from several of his accusers. Here's ABC's Trevor Ault.
[Cuts to video]
TREVOR AULT: For the first time, you are watching video testimony of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
INVESTIGATOR: Have you ever had any inappropriate relationships with women on your staff?
[Transition]
ANDREW CUOMO: Inappropriate, I assume, means a sexual relationship with women on my staff? The answer is no.
AULT: Today, the New York attorney general releasing nearly nine hours of video testimony over 11 hours of questioning, recorded in July as part of their investigation, which found Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women, leading to his resignation.
Along with Cuomo's testimony, the AG's office also releasing a trove of documents and video testimony from six accusers, including former aides Lindsay Boylan, Charlotte Bennett, and Brittany Commisso.
INVESTIGATOR: So, you have hugged Ms. Commisso?
CUOMO: I have hugged her, and she has initiated many of the hugs.
AULT: But in her interview, recorded in May, Commisso claims that those hugs made her uncomfortable and one went a step too far.
BRITTANY COMMISSO: I remember his hand just sliding right up my blouse. And I remember looking down. I remember seeing his hand, which is, I would say, it's a large hand, and over the -- my bra.
AULT: The attorney general's report said they found Cuomo's "Denials to lack credibility and to be inconsistent with the weight of the evidence obtained during our investigation." And the former governor is now facing a charge of misdemeanor forcible touching, stemming from that alleged incident with Commisso.
Cuomo says that interaction never happened and has repeatedly denied all claims of sexual misconduct, but he did publicly apologize to the 11 women who have accused him.
CUOMO: This is not to say that there are not 11 women who I truly offended. There are. And for that, I deeply, deeply apologize.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: And Trevor Ault with us live tonight. Trevor, any response from the former governor on this release of these videos and these questions?
AULT: Well, his attorneys have been quite critical, David. His attorney says this was a manipulated release of testimony with selective editing, selective redactions. And David, Cuomo is still scheduled to be arraigned on that misdemeanor charge in January, although the Albany district attorney is still evaluating that charge. David?
MUIR: All right, Trevor Ault with us tonight, as well. Trevor, thank you.
NBC Nightly News
November 29, 2021
7:14:09 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Tonight, newly released video show former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo being questioned about those allegations of sexual harassment. Here's Anne Thompson.
[Cuts to video]
ANNE THOMPSON: Over nearly 11 hours of questioning under oath.
ANDREW CUOMO: Yes, I do.
THOMPSON: About allegations of sexual harassment.
CUOMO: If somebody would have sat on my lap, you know, I wouldn't -- I wouldn't push them off. You know. But as a general rule, no.
THOMPSON: Then New York governor Andrew Cuomo was at times testy with investigators.
INVESTIGATOR: You understand what a girlfriend is?
CUOMO: Girlfriend means different things to different people.
THOMPSON: Denying claims by former administration official Lindsey Boylan that he asked her to play strip poker.
CUOMO: Never happened.
THOMPSON: Disputing that he made an unwanted advance to Anna Ruch at a wedding. The photo published in The New York Times.
INVESTIGATOR: Do you remember ever asking her on any occasion, can I kiss you? May I kiss you?
CUOMO: No. I don't remember that.
THOMPSON: Videos of Cuomo and six of his accusers released today by the New York attorney general's office. Cuomo will be arraigned in January for allegedly groping an aid's breast at the executive mansion in December 2020. Though not named in the complaint, the story mirrors that of executive assistant Brittany Commisso.
BRITTANY COMMISSO: I remember his hands just sliding right up my blouse.
THOMPSON: Cuomo insists that never happened.
CUOMO: It would be an act of insanity to touch a woman's breast and make myself vulnerable to a woman for such an accusation.
THOMPSON: Today's release also includes an interview with his brother CNN's Chris Cuomo and text messages showing he tried to help the Governor's staff by checking his sources about new accusers.
[Cuts back to live]
Tonight, CNN says it will review the attorney general's documents and have conversations over the next few days about how they relate to CNN. Lester?
HOLT: Anne Thompson, thank you.
