Chris Cuomo is preparing to sue CNN just days after the network fired the disgraced news anchor.
Cuomo has retained lawyers to secure the remainder of his four-year contract, worth $6 million annually, the New York Post reported Monday. CNN, however, has "no intention" of paying Cuomo.
"CNN has a standard morality clause in their contract that says if the employee does anything of disrepute, they can be immediately fired," a source familiar with the matter told the Post.
The news network on Saturday fired Cuomo over his efforts to help his brother, former governor Andrew Cuomo (D., N.Y.), combat accusations of sexual assault. CNN on Tuesday had suspended Cuomo after records released last week by New York attorney general Letitia James (D.) disclosed new information about his involvement in his brother's defense. According to the report, the anchor worked with the governor's office to uncover the identity of at least one of Andrew Cuomo's accusers and contacted journalists to track down upcoming stories about the accusations.
The Washington Post reported in May that Cuomo advised his brother's staff on how to respond to the allegations from several women who accused the governor of sexual harassment. CNN said an internal investigation last week found Cuomo misrepresented the extent of his involvement to network executives, providing cause to terminate his contract.
Cuomo, however, says CNN president Jeff Zucker was aware of his involvement in his brother's defense.
Cuomo and Zucker "were widely known to be extremely close and in regular contact, including about the details of Mr. Cuomo's support for his brother," a spokesman for Cuomo told the Wall Street Journal. "There were no secrets about this, as other individuals besides Mr. Cuomo can attest."