NY Attorney General Investigated NBC News Misconduct Claims; Megyn Kelly Among Witnesses Interviewed

[alp227]

Source: Variety

The New York attorney general’s office late last year launched an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation and gender discrimination at NBC News, Variety has learned. NBC News chief Andrew Lack and former “Hardball” host Chris Matthews were among multiple high-ranking executives and newsroom talents whose behavior was the subject of questioning, according to multiple sources.

Among those who cooperated with the investigation by providing testimony was Megyn Kelly, an individual close to the former “Today” host told Variety. Kelly declined to comment.

News of the investigation followed the surprise announcement Monday that Lack would depart the company months ahead of a planned retirement.

Variety has spoken directly to three women who were interviewed by the New York attorney general’s office, and has knowledge of three additional people who were brought in for questioning. Well-placed sources who were present for questioning at the attorney general’s office said the probe was a broad-scoped investigation and at least a dozen men and women were questioned. A source said attorney Douglas Wigdor represented several women in connection with their testimony at the attorney general’s office.

Read more: https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/nbc-news-misconduct-megyn-kelly-1234597897/

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NPR on Monday: NBC News Chief Andrew Lack Out After Tenure Marked By Scandal

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Charming!

Nice job you did running that joint, Lack!

[Mike 03]

2. It looks from this article like the investigation is following up on tips and material

reported by Ronan Farrow in Catch and Kill.

On Monday, new NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell tapped Telemundo boss Cesar Conde to head NBC News. The move hastened Lack’s retirement, which had been slated to take place after the 2020 presidential election. It also threw into question the future of NBC News exec Noah Oppenheim, whom Shell’s predecessor Steve Burke had publicly indicated would likely succeed Lack.

Addie Zinone — who revealed to Variety in late 2017 that Matt Lauer pursued her for a relationship as a 24-year-old production assistant on “Today” — said that she was also contacted as part of the investigation.

[dchill]

3. Nothing says "NBC News" like Matt Lauer.

[Rebl2]

4. Never could stand him

[dchill]

5. Me either. A punctilious twit.

[Prof.Higgins]

6. Chris Hayes and others praised Matthews. No mention of allegations, but for Biden any accusation

against Biden is characterised as credible without investigating with the same rigor that, say, Ronan Farrow, applies to his investigative journalism.

I will never watch Chris Hayes again, notwithstanding Rachel Maddow's attempt to salvage Hayes with undeserved praise during their handover confab yesterday. Hayes has always been a weak rater with only 16% audience share in third place far below FoxNews and CNN.