‘This is a Legal Mess for CNN’: Brian Stelter Paints Bleak Picture of Network’s Potential Liability as Zucker-Cuomo Saga Drags On

Brian Stelter acknowledges CNN is facing a significant “legal mess” from the fallout of Jeff Zucker and Allison Gollust being pushed out of the network.

On Sunday’s Reliable Sources, Stelter recapped the saga — which escalated Zucker was forced out as CNN’s president for failing to disclose his relationship with Gollust, who served as CNN’s chief marketing officer and a senior vice president. Gollust is accusing CNN’s parent company WarnerMedia of retaliation after her own departure last week.

Zucker and Gollust are under fire for their reported part in how the network got intertwined with the scandals that led to the downfalls of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his brother, former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo.

WarnerMedia chief Jason Kilar accused Zucker, Gollust and Chris Cuomo of breaking CNN’s news standards and practices — which Stelter called a “serious charge.” A third party CNN investigation reportedly revealed that Gollust let Andrew Cuomo set the agenda of his interviews on the network. Gollust has claimed this was standard practice with CNN’s guests, and Stelter acknowledged that assertion as “true” before adding “I have spoken with multiple anchors who interviewed the governor here on CNN, and none of them saw signs of interference. This material about Gollust surprised them.”

Stelter turned to his panel  — where former CBS News vice president Joe Peyronnin agreed the scandal reflects a conflict of interest complication for CNN. This prompted Stelter to wonder if “maybe none of this would’ve happened” if Zucker put Chris Cuomo on a leave of absence when he had the chance.

The discussion continued to revolve around the ethics involved and whether there’s more to the Zucker-Gollust saga. Stelter eventually noted “everyone is lawyered up” now that Chris Cuomo may sue the network for repetitional damages and the money he was denied from his contract.

This led to Stelter delivering a grim assessment of the potential liability his network is facing.

“This is a legal mess for CNN.”

Watch above, via CNN.