CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker quit his job Wednesday after his love affair with a CNN staffer was exposed in the network’s probe of disgraced former anchor Chris Cuomo.
In a statement, Zucker confessed that he did not divulge the inappropriate relationship when he should have — i.e., when it began. The outgoing executive’s love interest is Allison Gollust, the leftist network’s top spokesman.
Why Gollust has not resigned, or been forced to quit, is unknown, although that pink slip might be in the near future. Women at the network are furious that she hasn’t been cashiered, the New York Post reported.
The departure of Zucker is yet another black eye for the network that bills itself as “the most trusted name in news.” It has been engulfed in one scandal after another in the past year, not least the revelation that a top producer — and former sidekick to Cuomo — ran a child-rape scheme out of a ski chalet in Vermont.
Yet another another big wig was caught on tape fantasizing about raping an underage girl.
“Larger Than Life”
CNN turned its story about Zucker’s inappropriate relationship with Gollust into a self-congratulatory tongue bath.
Zucker “reshaped the iconic network” Brian Stelter and Oliver Darcy wrote to introduce Zucker’s statement.
“As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo’s 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:
I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn’t. I was wrong. As a result, I am resigning today.
Zucker did not name Gollust, who published her own mea culpa:
Jeff and I have been close friends and professional partners for over 20 years. Recently, our relationship changed during COVID. I regret that we didn’t disclose it at the right time. I’m incredibly proud of my time at CNN and look forward to continuing the great work we do everyday.
Yet Zucker is an American hero, Stelter and Darcy reported.
“I recent years, Zucker led the network as it faced sustained attacks from former President Trump and his supporters,” the two wrote:
Under Zucker, CNN adopted a “Facts First” slogan and approach to the news and was unrelenting in calling out Trump for his lies.
The approach turned Zucker into a villain for Trump, with the then-president lashing out at him during his years in office. Zucker also became a regular boogeyman in right-wing media, with Fox hosts viciously attacking him in prime time.
It was all evidence of Zucker’s larger-than-life status in the news business and influence over the broader discourse in American politics.
The “broader discourse” at CNN, though, is about office politics.
“Female employees at CNN are furious that chief spokesperson Allison Gollust is keeping her job after lying about her affair with newly resigned CEO Jeff Zucker ‘for years,’” the Post reported:
“Why is she allowed to keep her job, when she was promoted while sleeping with the boss?” a CNN insider railed.
“CNN is supposed to be a transparent news network. How does she get away with lying about their affair for so long?”
Those are good questions.
In early January, Radar Online reported that the Zucker-Gollust affair ended their marriages.
Gollust once worked for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in disgrace last year after more than a dozen women accused him of sexual assault and harassment.
That connection might have been the reason the network didn’t fire Chris Cuomo when it learned he was a part-time adviser to his brother. Cuomo held on to this job until New York’s attorney general released text messages that showed that he lied about the nature and extent of his “advice” to his disgraced big brother.
Pedo Scandals
In December CNN learned that the FBI had arrested producer John Griffin in connection with the child-rape scheme. Among other crimes, Griffin is accused of paying an adoptive mother for a sex romp with the mother and her daughter.
Former CNN producer Rick Saleeby quit the network after Project Veritas disclosed a recording of his rape fantasy involving a teenage girl. He also sought photos. Fairfax County police are investigating Saleeby, who worked for network star Jake Tapper.
As for Zucker, in December 2020, he was caught on tape ordering subordinates to “go after” GOP Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
