CBS Subpoenaed Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Leslie Moonves

By David Boddiger  |  September 29, 2018 | 2:37pm
Media

CBS Corporation is facing an investigation by New York state and city authorities over several sexual misconduct allegations against former CEO Leslie Moonves. The investigation also will look at workplace conditions at the company, Variety and other media outlets have reported.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, CBS said it had received subpoenas from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Commission on Human Rights related to sexual harassment allegations against the disgraced former network executive, who resigned earlier this month.

The New York State Attorney General’s Office also requested information from the company, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Moonves resigned following reports by The New Yorker’s Ronan Farrow that detailed allegations by several women that the former media executive had sexually harassed and assaulted them and that “the culture in some parts of the company tolerated sexual misconduct.”

The accusations included “forcing oral sex on two women, pulling his penis out in a 9 a.m. meeting, physically overpowering women, and vindictively shattering careers,” among others, Jezebel reported.

CBS has hired two outside law firms to investigate the allegations. According to The Wall Street Journal, the firms are “probing the culture at CBS overall, including CBS News, where ‘CBS This Morning’ anchor Charlie Rose was fired last fall after he was accused of harassment by multiple women.”

The Journal added:

Jeff Fager, the longtime executive producer of “60 Minutes” also was let go after he sent a note seen as threatening to a CBS News reporter who was writing about allegations that had behaved inappropriately with women and condoned a hostile work environment at the news magazine.
Mr. Fager has denied those allegations.

Also this week, board members Bruce Gordon and William Cohen resigned, and CBS communications chief Gil Schwartz announced his retirement. New board member Dick Parsons was named as interim chairman. Joe Ianniello is currently the acting CEO.

“The Company is cooperating with the ongoing investigation and related inquiries,” the SEC filing stated.

CBS did not comment further.

 
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