The now-former president of CNN Jeff Zucker announced his resignation in a memo to staff on February 2. According to the memo, the resignation follows new details that came to light in the investigation into former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo.
“As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomos’ tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone i have worked with for more than 20 years,” Zucker said in the memo, according to a tweet from CNN’s chief media correspondent Brian Stelter. “I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn’t. I was wrong.”
While she wasn’t named in the memo, Stelter said Zucker’s aforementioned relationship was with Allison Gollust, the chief marketing officer at CNN. Gollust used to serve as the communications director for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY).
“Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years,” Stelter quoted Gollust as saying in a separate memo. “Recently, our relationship changed during COVID. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time.” Stelter added that Gollust would stay with CNN, quoting her as saying “I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do everyday.”
The Cuomo investigation aimed to take a closer look at the role Chris played in helping former Gov. Cuomo navigate the sexual harassment investigation to which he was subject. That investigation led to Andrew’s resignation last August.
Chris was fired after documents revealed he offered to reach out to “sources,” including other reporters, to find out whether more women were going to come forward to accuse his brother. Chris would then relay what he was hearing to his brother’s advisers. Chris also sparred with those advisers over strategy, urging an apologetic tone and critiquing an early statement that he saw as downplaying the allegations.
CNN is part of WarnerMedia, which is being spun off in a $43 billion transaction with Discovery. As president, Zucker was expected to play a prominent role in the new Warner Bros Discovery, which is planning to launch a new subscription streaming video news service, CNN+, in the first quarter of 2022. Several high-profile hires have already been made ahead of the launch, including former Fox News personality Chris Wallace.
