Convenient! CNN host Chris Cuomo is to take 'a week's vacation' from network for his birthday amid his involvement in governor brother's sex-pest scandal: Network to air AOC special instead

Chris Cuomo has announced he will be taking a weeklong 'vacation' from CNN for his birthday - amid outrage that he has ignored the sexual harassment scandal engulfing his brother, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo, 50, has faced a slurry of criticism for participating in strategy sessions during his brother’s political crisis while serving as CNN’s star journalist – all the while refusing to cover the scandal. 

The CNN host said Thursday he would be taking the 'long-planned vacation' on an episode The Handoff - the weekly podcast he co-hosts with colleague Don Lemon.

CNN will instead air a special on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during his Monday timeslot, though a network press release made no reference to the Cuomo scandal. 

Cuomo also made no reference to his brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who faces widespread calls to resign after a report by New York Attorney General Letitia James described multiple sexual harassment accusations against him on Tuesday.

'Every year I take my birthday week off. I'm looking forward to it,' said Chris Cuomo.

The younger Cuomo, who is turning 51, said he'll spend his vacation fishing in the Hamptons.

'I'll be right here at home because I don't know why I'd go anywhere else than the East End of Long Island during the summer. It's the most beautiful place in the world,' Cuomo said.

'I'll be fishing, I'll be hanging out with you, and I'll be making memories with the kids.'

Chris Cuomo announced he will be taking a weeklong 'vacation' from CNN - which will instead air a special on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Chris Cuomo has failed to report the story of Gov. Andrew Cuomo since the attorney general report about his sex pest scandal was released on Tuesday 

Chris Cuomo has been seen flying back and forth by helicopter from the Hamptons to New York City this week after the release of the attorney general's report.   

DailyMail.com has reached out to CNN for information on how long the AOC special has been scheduled to air during Cuomo's timeslot. 

Monday's special titled 'Being… AOC' debuts Dana Bash's new Being series.

'Throughout the series, Bash spends time with individuals affecting American policy, politics, and culture to give viewers an understanding of the human being behind the public face,' the announcement reads.

Ocasio-Cortez, commonly known as AOC, will talk with Bash about her 'unique perspective on power and femininity' as well as how her past experience with sexual assault impacted her perspective on the deadly Capitol riot on January 6. 

Earlier this week, it was reported that Chris Cuomo was previously offered a 'leave of absence' to formally advise his brother.

Executives with the network informally proposed the idea that the younger Cuomo could take an optional leave of absence to advise his brother and return to the network later, sources told The New York Times. 

The possible leave of absence was suggested in May when the Washington Post revealed Chris Cuomo’s involvement in his brother’s scandal.

Cuomo is pictured leaving the Hamptons for New York City on Wednesday

Chris on Wednesday boarded the helicopter in the rain for the 30-minute trip to Manhattan

In response to the proposal, Chris Cuomo told network executives he wanted to continue on his primetime program while obeying rules preventing him from commenting on the scandal, sources told The New York Times.

Chris Cuomo also promised not to discuss his brother's crisis strategy with any government officials besides Andrew Cuomo himself, according to the outlet.

The new revelations reflect comments Chris Cuomo publicly made at the time, telling his followers on air that he was 'truly sorry' for taking part in the strategy calls - and adding that he compromised his colleagues at the network.

He publicly said at the time that when his brother's situation 'became turbulent' he started getting 'looped into calls with other friends of his and advisers that did include some of his staff.'

'I understand why that was a problem for CNN. It will not happen again. It was a mistake because I put my colleagues here, who I believe are the best in the business, in a bad spot. I never intended for that. I would never intend for that and I am sorry for that,' he said.

Glory days: Chris Cuomo quarantining in his Hamptons basement last year with Cuomo, speaking with his brother on his show, when Andrew was a pandemic hero 

Chris Cuomo is pictured arriving at the Blade heliport in New York City amidst his brother Governor Andrew Cuomo facing multiple criminal investigations

Chris Cuomo added that has never tried to influence CNN's coverage of his brother and has in fact 'been walled off from it.'

A CNN spokesman admitted at the time that Chris Cuomo's behavior was 'inappropriate. The network added that he would not face punishment - but allowed unnamed staff members to stick the knife into him in its own report on the gaffe.  

CNN is facing mounting calls to fire Chris Cuomo after a more detailed account of his involvement with the scandal emerged on Tuesday in the new explosive report by the New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The calls for his removal grew further after his show Prime Time with Chris Cuomo aired on Tuesday night at 9pm and completely ignored the report into his brother.  

Critics have called it a clear conflict of interest that can no longer be ignored.