Media coverage of sexual harassment charges against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo represents a clear double standard compared to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s liberal media coverage in 2018, said former prosecutor- Florida general, Pam Bondi, on Friday.
“As a career promoter, before you become a attorney general, you know you need to look at what women say,” Bondi told Orlando’s Fox & Friends, where he will speak at CPAC.
Bondi said that dealing with allegations of sexual assault is a “delicate balance” and that the #MeToo movement “has brought many criminals to justice”.
“But we saw what Brett Kavanaugh did, a good man, and whatever you just touched, that all these people said about Brett Kavanaugh, that should be applied to Governor Cuomo,” said Bondi.
MEDIA DOWNPLAY CUOMO SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS WHILE THE ACCUSER DOES NOT TAKE QUESTIONS
After CNN finally covered the bombing sexual harassment charges brought up against Cuomo on Thursday with a story leading with his denial, critics pointed out that Supreme Court judge Brett Kavanaugh did not receive the same treatment.
CNN was silent about allegations of sexual harassment by former Cuomo aide Lindsey Boylan for nearly 24 hours, but finally covered the story online on Thursday and led to Cuomo’s denial. She broke the silence in the air on the subject with a brief segment of John King on Thursday.
Anchorman Jake Tapper shared the story on Twitter and critics quickly pointed out that the framework was significantly different from the way unverified claims against Kavanaugh were covered by Tapper and his network. Governor Cuomo, of course, is the older brother of CNN’s prime time anchor Chris Cuomo.
“Framing,” wrote Stephen L. Miller, noting that CNN’s Kavanaugh story focused its headline on the woman who accused him of sexual assault.
Bondi called for sexual misconduct to be investigated fully and fairly, to hold both the accuser and the accused accountable.
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“They have to ask the tough questions. They have to interview these women. They have to listen to these women. And, you know, there are a lot of women who seem to have credibility, who want to take over, want to testify about it,” said Bondi.
“Everyone needs to hear. There is so much sexual violence in our country now, and this is how it all starts with people in power. Did he do anything? We don’t know now.”
Brian Flood of Fox News contributed to this report.