Posted on 05/02/2018 5:06:32 AM PDT by MarvinStinson
Several female staffers at NBC News said they "felt forced" to sign a "women’s letter" defending veteran news anchor Tom Brokaw against sexual harassment allegations, according to a new report.
Linda Vester, a former NBC News anchor and colleague of Brokaw, told the Washington Post that Brokaw "made unwanted advances toward her on two occasions in the 1990s, including a forcible attempt to kiss her."
After the allegations against Brokaw were published last week, Brokaw denied them in a long letter pushing back against the details of the claim. After Brokaw denied the accusation, dozens of NBC women signed a letter defending the retired anchor.
While several prominent NBC women, including Rachel Maddow, Mika Brzezinski, Andrea Mitchell and Maria Shriver, passionately defended Brokaw, several lower level staffers said they felt pressured to sign the letter or face repercussions, according to Page Six.
One NBC News staffer said, "We felt forced to sign the letter supporting Brokaw. We had no choice, particularly the lower level staffers. The letter was being handed around the office and the unspoken threat was that if your name was not on it, there would be some repercussion down the road. Execs are watching to see who signed and who didn’t. This was all about coming out in force to protect NBC’s golden boy; the network’s reputation is tied to Brokaw . . . If more women come forward, that’s a big problem."
Another insider said the powerful names on the letter could intimidate other victims. "When you have over 100 women like Andrea Mitchell signing a letter of support without knowing the facts, it’s pretty scary . . . The letter will have a chilling effect on other women coming forward."
An NBC News rep said, "The letter is a purely grass-roots effort, led by women outside of the company who are motivated by their own support for Tom Brokaw . . . Management has played absolutely no role whatsoever."
"As professional women, we fully endorse the conversation around abuse of power in the workplace. In the context of that conversation, we would like to share our perspectives on working with Tom Brokaw," the letter reads.
"Tom has treated each of us with fairness and respect. He has given each of us opportunities for advancement and championed our successes throughout our careers. As we have advanced across industries — news, publishing, law, business and government — Tom has been a valued source of counsel and support. We know him to be a man of tremendous decency and integrity," the letter reads.
While defenders call the letter a "purely grass-roots effort," critics say it was led by Goldman Sachs executive Liz Bowyer, who is the producer of the "Tom Brokaw Reports" documentary series and has worked on two of Brokaw's books.
While defenders call the letter a “purely grass-roots effort,” critics say it was led by Goldman Sachs executive Liz Bowyer, who is the producer of the “Tom Brokaw Reports” documentary series and has worked on two of Brokaw’s books.
So Rachel Madcow and Angria Mitchell are saying they weren’t sexually harassed by Brokaw? Gee, what a surprise.....
Hey! We said he was a morally corrupt leftist...not desperate and blind!
NBC did a similar letter for Al Franken.
Big Network news is the next Kmart/ Blockbuster/Sears.
I haven’t watched but am l to beleive they are treating the allegations against “Tom” differently then they treated the charges against Judge Moore? /s
Say it ain’t so...
(as they wheel me into an operating room to surgically unroll my eyes which hit the stops and got stuck)
Yes sir.
“When you have over 100 women like Andrea Mitchell signing a letter of support without knowing the facts, it’s pretty scary”
Brokenjaw didn’t try to forcibly kiss Andrea Mitchell? O.K., I’ll have to admit that while Brokenjaw is a leftist he’s not a crazed leftist.
In Tom’s defense....he wasn’t messing around with 18-year old gals (at least not yet).
I should also note...based on the last week...Judge Moore is taking the various women who made allegations against him into court...saying a conspiracy existed. I don’t think the women expected that action, and their handlers likely will sneak out the back door...leaving them to hire real lawyers to defend their situation in an Alabama court.
If he proves outside money was paid to the ladies or their handlers...the verdict will put each lady in a bad situation, and as amusing as it sounds....he’ll be back in 2020 to run for the seat again(my humble guess).
Coercion under even tone of voice and body language implied threat of retaliation makes for a strong legal argument well beyond a toxic work environment.
Shouldn’t the heat be on NBC? After all the sleaze they have protected and now seem to use intimidation tactics to cover up, shouldn’t their company go away like Harvey Weinberg’s?
Zimmerman should own NBC. After the way they FORGED pics and audio to frame him, he should own that company!
female staffers at NBC News said they “felt forced” to sign a “women’s letter” defending veteran news anchor Tom Brokaw
But when we saw the Check they were giving us, it was easier to sign.
Manager: Sign ze papers!
Manager: Sin ze papers, old woman!.......
Woman: What do ze papers say?.......................
Manager: Ze papers are simply a statement saying you have not been sexually harassed by Tom Brokaw..............................
Hey Tom.....”TAKE THAT”
Hey baby sign the papers and later come into my new office that Matt Laurer used. Don’t worry if you hear a click when the door closes behind you....
“He has given us opportunities for advancement. And some of us who gave into to his advances have advanced.”
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