CNN Executive Was Ousted After Discussing Interview Topics With Governor

On a Saturday in March 2020, as Covid-19 was invading the United States, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo went on CNN for a live interview. He was asked about a possible government-enforced New YorkQuarantine that had been floated by President Donald J. Trump.

It was a hot topic, but its path onto viewers' screens would turn out to be controversial and consequential for the future of one of the world's most powerful news networks.

According to several people familiar with the matter, Governor Cuomo told a senior CNN executive about subjects that he would like to be asked about on air. Ms. Gollust, CNN's chief of communications and marketing and a former top aide of the governor, passed along the topics to CNN producers and then reported back to the governor.

She wrote that she was done.

The people said that Ms. Gollust was forced to resign from CNN after an internal investigation found a trove of written communications between her and Governor Cuomo. The people said that Jeff Zucker was aware of many of the communications between Ms. Gollust and the governor.

The latest example of how closely entwined CNN's leadership was with one of the country's most prominent Democratic politicians is the episode.

Television news shows often have producers and bookers talk with guests before their appearances and discuss topics that are likely to come up on air. It's unusual for a senior executive to be involved in that pre-interview process, even if they worked for the person being interviewed.

The communications with the governor were appropriate, according to Risa Heller. Ms. Gollust did not suggest that the interview should be limited to these topics, nor did she suggest that the topics should be included in the interview.

WarnerMedia's use of this everyday practice as justification for dismissing Allison shows how ignorant they are of journalistic practices.

CNN, whose slogan is "the most trusted name in news", is facing questions about how its senior executives and its top-rated anchor, Chris Cuomo, the governor's younger brother.

In a memo to employees this week, the chief executive of WarnerMedia, which is CNN's parent company, wrote that Ms. Gollust was leaving after an internal investigation found violations of company policies.

CNN was already reeling in the wake of Mr. Zucker's departure. Mr. Zucker said he was leaving because he didn't reveal his relationship with Ms. Gollust.

The internal review began last fall with an examination of allegations of workplace misconduct against Chris Cuomo.

Mr. Cuomo was fired by Mr. Zucker after the network received a letter claiming that he had sexually abused a woman. The woman thought that was an attempt to buy her silence. Mr. Cuomo denied the allegations.

Mr. Cuomo came under fire for advising his brother on how to deal with a sexual misconduct scandal that eventually forced the governor to resign.

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The Cravath review took off after Mr. Cuomo left CNN.

Mr. Zucker and Ms. Gollust, who had worked closely together on and off for more than two decades, were having a romantic affair that had not been disclosed to human resources or other executives at WarnerMedia.

The people said that the Cravath investigators uncovered extensive written communications between the governor and Ms. Gollust.

It wasn't clear what the communications were about.

The people said that Governor Cuomo told Ms. Gollust about three subjects that he wanted to be covered during a March 28, 2020 appearance at CNN.

The topics included his recent phone conversation with Mr. Trump and the effect of New York being placed under lock down.

The governor was asked about those subjects by Ms. Gollust.

The Cravath lawyers looked at broadcast transcripts that showed that the anchor asked about subjects that Ms. Gollust had put forward.

Ms. Gollust was the principal booker for Governor Cuomo during the early days of the Pandemic.

It was not clear if Mr. Zucker knew that Ms. Gollust passed on the request.

The New York Times was referred to the memo by a WarnerMedia spokesman.

There are questions about the future direction of CNN after the exits of Mr. Zucker and Ms. Gollust.

WarnerMedia will be spun off and merged with Discovery in the coming months.

WarnerMedia kept a lid on the internal drama, initially remaining tight-lipped about the circumstances of Mr. Zucker's departure and then issuing a short, vaguely worded memo on Tuesday night about Ms. Gollust's departure.

Even in conversations with CNN staff, executives and newsroom leaders have been mostly silent.

In a pair of meetings on Wednesday with CNN employees, Michael Bass and Ken Jautz, who stepped in as two of the network's interim leaders after Mr. Zucker's departure, were told that Ms. Gollust had committed serious violations of the network.

Three people said that the top communications official at WarnerMedia said that Ms. Gollust's transgressions had to do with the Cuomos.

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Ms. Haubegger said she was not allowed to say more.

She said on the call that actions were taken to defend the institution and brand.

CNN's foreign correspondents in Ukraine are covering the conflict with Russia and Ms. Haubegger urged CNN's public relations team to focus on the network's journalism.

The findings of the internal investigation are notable because CNN journalists have attacked Sean Hannity for having an overly close relationship with Mr. Trump.

CNN was accused by Mr. Trump of being a mouthpiece for Democrats.

James B. Stewart was involved in reporting.