In a memo to staffers Tuesday night, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar mentioned that Gollust resigned after an investigation “into points related to” former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo and his brother Andrew, the previous New York governor.
“Based mostly on interviews of more than 40 people and an overview of over 100,000 texts and emails, the investigation discovered violations of firm insurance policies, together with CNN’s Information Requirements and Practices, by Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust, and Chris Cuomo,” Kilar mentioned within the memo.
“We have the very best requirements of journalistic integrity at CNN, and these guidelines should apply to everybody equally,” Kilar added. “Given the data offered to me within the investigation, I strongly imagine we’ve taken the precise actions and the precise selections have been made.”
Gollust launched a remark addressing her exit Tuesday night.
WarnerMedia’s assertion tonight is an attempt to retaliate against me and alter the media narrative within the wake of their disastrous dealings with the last two weeks, she mentioned. It’s deeply disappointing that after spending the previous 9 years defending and upholding CNN’s highest requirements of journalistic integrity, I’d be handled in this manner as I go away. However, I accomplished that with my head held high, understanding that I gave my coronary heart and soul to working with the best journalists on the planet. ”
A consultant for Zucker didn’t immediately remark. Cuomo declined to remark.
The regulatory agency’s preliminary overview decided that CNN had grounds to terminate Cuomo, and that is what Zucker did on December 4, setting a rare chain of events into motion.
Cuomo employed a high-profile Hollywood litigator and instructed buddies that he would search for the thousands and thousands of dollars that remained on his contract. The community, under Zucker, refused to pay.
The Cravath overview continued—and, as CNN beforehand reported, quite a few staffers all over the group have been interviewed.
“What had begun with a focus on Mr. Cuomo’s conduct was morphing right into a broader look at Mr. Zucker’s dealings with the anchor and his interactions with the Cuomos,” a brand new New York Occasions investigation mentioned on Tuesday. “Amongst different issues, the legal professionals requested information from CNN staff about how Mr. Zucker had dealt with Mr. Cuomo’s suspension and firing, what he knew about Chris Cuomo’s interactions with his brother, and whether or not any staff had been aware of communications between Mr. Zucker and Andrew Cuomo.”
The Cravath legal professionals additionally requested information with regards to the relationship between Zucker and Gollust.
Zucker confirmed the connection, but as a result of the fact that he didn’t disclose it at the time it started, he was in violation of firm requirements.
When he exited on February 2, he admitted as such: “I used to be required to reveal it when it started, but I did not. I used to be flawed.”
Gollust mentioned in a press release that the connection was “modified throughout COVID” and “I regret that we did not disclose it at the proper time.”
Gollust indicated that she would continue working at CNN, as the pinnacle of promotion and communications, and she or he was seen at the firm’s New York workplace last week.
However, she has now resigned too, in keeping with Kilar, and the Cravath probe is now full.
