CNN President Jeff Zucker reportedly told staffers during a virtual town hall on Tuesday that the network won't pay severance to Chris Cuomo following his firing.
Zucker, who has been the president of the network since 2013, said in hindsight he wishes he had fired the disgraced anchor, who was paid $6 million-a-year, sooner but that it was 'easy to criticize CNN.'
'Yes, in hindsight he may have taken action sooner but [the] result, [Zucker's] comfortable with,' a source told Fox News.
A source told FOX there was 'universal relief' among CNN staff when Cuomo was finally dismissed.
'That's separate from liking Chris or not liking Chris – it's people feeling that there was a right thing to do, and it was done,' the insider said.
During a question-and-answer session on Tuesday, Zucker said he reprimanded Cuomo in May and warned him against advising his brother.
Zucker reportedly said during the town hall that the network has not decided on a prime-time host replacement but options are being considered. Jake Tapper is widely-considered the favorite for the flagship 9pm slot, although workers at the network are said to be pushing for a more diverse hire.
Jeff Zucker, who has been the president of the network since 2012, said in hindsight he wishes he had fired the disgraced anchor sooner but that it was 'easy to criticize CNN'
Zucker's remarks come days after CNN fired Cuomo, 51, for advising his brother ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo in his sex pest scandal, crafting statements for him and using his journalistic sources to investigate some of his accusers.
After the latest claims against Cuomo's alleged meddling were shared by New York Attorney General Letitia James. That saw Cuomo suspended, with a former ABC colleague subsequently coming forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct.
That unidentified woman's allegations, which haven't been detailed, are said to have finally prompted his firing.
'Chris had gone further than he had told me and told other members of our senior executive team,' another source told The Wall Street Journal Zucker, 56, had said.
Chris Cuomo is now threatening to sue the network for $18million, which he says remains on his contract, claiming Zucker was well aware of his involvement in defending his brother.
Chris Cuomo is now threatening to sue the network for $18million, which he says remains on his contract, claiming Zucker was well aware of his involvement in defending his brother
Cuomo claimed Zucker was completely clued in on his role in his brother's strategy to fight the sexual harassment claims, and that he is not being hung out to dry.
'He has made a number of accusations that are patently false,' the network said in a statement. 'This reinforces why he was terminated for violating our standards and practices, as well as his lack of candor.'
Unnamed sources yesterday told The New York Post that the network has 'no intention' of paying Cuomo out of his settlement because they claim he violated the terms of his contract.
CNN dragged its heels in disciplining Cuomo, despite a swell of public outcry, before eventually firing him on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Cuomo is preparing to sue his former employer for $18 million left on his contract, claiming that CNN President Jeff Zucker knew about his involvement in his brother's sex pest probe.
The network fired Cuomo on Saturday citing the journalist's role in defending his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, against multiple sexual harassment allegations.
Cuomo says CNN President Jeff Zucker knew about his help with his brother's defense against the sex claims, which the network called 'patently
