NBC: Halperin suspended after CNN harassment exposé

Source: HotAir
Published: Oct 26, 2017
Author: Ed Morrissey
Post Date: 2017-10-26 12:28:06 by Tooconservative
Views: 3561

It didn’t take long for NBC News to react to a CNN exposé by Oliver Darcy on its top on-air political analyst. Five women have accused Mark Halperin of unwanted sexual advances, including groping, during his tenure as ABC News’ political director. Halperin admitted on the record of pursuing “inappropriate” romantic relationships with subordinates, but denies assaulting anyone:
“During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me,” Halperin said in a statement to CNN Wednesday night. “I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain. For that, I am deeply sorry and I apologize. Under the circumstances, I’m going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation.” …

The stories of harassment shared with CNN range in nature from propositioning employees for sex to kissing and grabbing one’s breasts against her will. Three of the women who spoke to CNN described Halperin as, without consent, pressing an erection against their bodies while he was clothed. Halperin denies grabbing a woman’s breasts and pressing his genitals against the three women.

The women who worked with Halperin and who spoke with CNN did not report to Halperin. However, Halperin made many decisions about political coverage at ABC News, and had a voice in some critical personnel decisions. None of the women have said, though, that he ever promised anything in exchange for sex, or suggested that he would retaliate against anyone.

The stories share some elements, suggesting a pattern of behavior. Darcy reports that his first source reported Halperin’s behavior to a “mentor at ABC News,” which apparently resulted in no action. ABC News will have a lot of explaining to do about that. The other four women told friends about the harassment contemporaneously, which confirmed those stories in whole or part to CNN. That sounds like another high-profile case in the news lately, even if the acts alleged do not approach the same level of egregiousness as Harvey Weinstein’s.

There is one other point of commonality — none of the women worked with Halperin at NBC, where he’s worked since 2010. His network isn’t waiting around for women in its own organization to start coming forward, however. Halperin told CNN that he would “step back” from his public duties to “properly deal” with this burgeoning scandal, but NBC made it sound less than voluntary:

NEW: Halperin leaving his role as NBC analyst, per network statement pic.twitter.com/iptgSuFCKH

— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) October 26, 2017

Halperin has other gigs, too. He is one of the central figures on Showtime’s The Circus, and he has been a board member on the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire for almost a decade. Presumably Halperin will take a voluntary break from all of the above, but it remains to be seen whether that will remain voluntary.

Now that he’s out at NBC — temporarily, at least — any potential victims now have a window of opportunity to emerge. The dynamics of harassment scandals has become all too familiar in that sense; once a few victims come forward and the alleged harasser has been put on public notice, suddenly more women feel empowered to tell their stories. It would be strange, although not impossible, to have had that pattern of Halperin’s behavior at ABC News and then suddenly stop seven years ago.

The pattern of reporting will pick up speed, too. These scandals have been exposed by eager reporters who have diligently and carefully pieced together sources and corroboration before publication, and there are an almost endless supply of such reporters looking for a chance at a national story. No media outlet, no industry can assume it will be immune from scrutiny. However, reporters had better make sure to be as careful and thorough with future exposés, and consumers of these reports should keep a sharp eye on those qualities in the feeding frenzies to come.

Update: Mika Brzezinski provided a short statement on Morning Joe, one of Halperin’s main gigs for NBC (via Instapundit):

MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” paused Thursday morning to address a potentially awkward situation: Mark Halperin, the well-known political reporter and frequent contributor to the morning program, has been accused of sexual harassment by five women in a report posted Wednesday night by CNN.

“Now to a story that broke overnight involving someone you see around this table every day. CNN is reporting allegations regarding our friend Mark Halperin during his time at ABC News over a decade ago, unnamed sources detailing unwanted advances and inappropriate behavior. Halperin apologized for the pain his actions caused and said “I will take a step pack from my day-to-day work while I properly address the situation.,” said co-host Mika Brzezinski, facing the camera. “We are going to be following this story as it develops I’m sure we are going to be talking about it again when we know more about it.” She did not address whether NBC News had taken any action regarding Halperin’s status as a contributor to the program.

Meanwhile, Emily Miller has added a #MeToo to the Halperin story:

Go back and watch the episode I was on of Morning Joe. This will explain why so many of you asked why he attacked me on live TV

— Emily Miller (@EmilyMiller) October 26, 2017

More to come, surely.

Poster Comment:

Another horny domino falls. Good. He's a smug liberal ass anyway.

Post Comment   Private Reply

#1: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#0)

“We are going to be following this story as it develops I’m sure we are going to be talking about it again when we know more about it hell freezes over.”

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-26 14:06:42   Reply   Private Reply

#2: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#1)

Naw, the news bitches got Ailes and O'Reilly, then the Hollyweird bitches took down Weinstein and are on the warpath, now they're after the pedophile Nickelodeon guy so the remaining news bitches figure they'd better strike while the iron is hot.

Getting rid of these guys in the news racket is a good way for various Womyn to get promoted. Someone will take Halperin's place. Bet it's a Womyn.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-26 15:00:13   Reply   Private Reply

#3: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#1)

They are still talking about it. Apparently, he liked to sneak up on women and run a boner on them. And today another salacious story.

“I sat in a chair across from him,” she told CNN. “He was behind a wooden desk so I couldn’t see him from the waist down. As we had our conversation about my career he was masturbating. There was no question about it.”

“I pretended like I didn’t know what was going on and we talked a bit more and then he abruptly wrapped up the conversation,” she continued.

The woman told CNN it was clear what Halperin was doing. “There was an up and down motion,” she said.

“I don’t know if he made any sound at the end or how it was clear to me that he had climaxed,” she said. “But it was clear that he was satisfied — like he stopped making that motion and stopped staring at me.”

What a creep.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-27 19:23:20   Reply   Private Reply

#4: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#1)

And now El Creepo has tweeted a statement:

Oh, well, it's all in the past and now he's much better. And needs to spend more time with his family. Isn't that sweet?

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-27 19:26:38   Reply   Private Reply

#5: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#1)

And a little reminder from Ace at AoS today:

For his part, Halperin has been admirably consistent on sexual assault in the past:

As I have said 2x on @morning_joe today, Rep Akin's remarks are outrageous & should be denounced by all. Sexual assault is a serious matter— Mark Halperin (@MarkHalperin) August 20, 2012
When people say some new Trump tape could have material that is WORSE than the @accesshollywood video, what exactly could be WORSE?!?— Mark Halperin (@MarkHalperin) October 9, 2016

Well, Mark, several women say you attacked them. One says you grabbed her breast, another says you rubbed your erection up on her.

What could be worse? How about a hypocrite like Halperin rubbing his boner on interns, jerking off under his desk while creep-staring a woman in his office. And it is matter of days until he is accused of trying to rape one of his co-workers. She's been hinting and she's just waiting to strike.

F-ck this creep and all the people who covered up for him. He's as bad as Weinstein. And everyone knew.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-27 21:09:58   Reply   Private Reply

#6: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#5)

F-ck this creep and all the people who covered up for him.

All this happened at ABC, a company he left 10 years ago. Why did it take these women so long to come forward? As soon as he left and no longer had any influence over their careers, they should have run to the nearest newspaper.

As with Weinstein I wonder -- How many of these women hinted/suggested that they'd be willing to use the "casting couch" to get what they wanted? I bet half. Of course, now they ALL say it was the guy's idea.

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-27 21:49:52   Reply   Private Reply

#7: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#6)

Why did it take these women so long to come forward?

The women saw that even powerhouses like Ailes and O'Reilly could be taken down.

And the Weinstein accusers had to encourage them.

And when the revelation that O'Reilly paid a $32 million settlement came out, some of them may have considered that being truthful could be very lucrative, more so than they could ever expect to earn over the next 10 years or so.

As with Weinstein I wonder -- How many of these women hinted/suggested that they'd be willing to use the "casting couch" to get what they wanted? I bet half. Of course, now they ALL say it was the guy's idea.

I'll welcome anything to crush libmedia and Hollyweird, both hotbeds of Dems. Go after all of them. After all, any Republican in either group is so squeaky clean that we would have known long ago if they weren't.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-27 22:02:13   Reply   Private Reply

#8: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#7)

The women saw that even powerhouses like Ailes and O'Reilly could be taken down.

"Taken down" for a little grabass? Sound fair to you?

I'm saying that after Halperin left and could no longer affect their careers, these women could have let it be known what kind of guy he was. They didn't. For 10 years.

That makes me think that whatever he did was no big deal at the time and was considered part of the job. I'll ask again, how many women used their sexuality with Halperin to get what they wanted?

Never mind. That behavior is obviously OK.

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 10:34:18   Reply   Private Reply

#9: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#7)

some of them may have considered that being truthful could be very lucrative

Either truthful or inventive. Either will get you the money.

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 10:35:57   Reply   Private Reply

#10: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#7)

I'll welcome anything to crush libmedia and Hollyweird, both hotbeds of Dems.

Well, I just think it's funny that with all the sexual favors being traded between women who want something from men in power that it's only the men in power who are vilified. Are women that helpless?

What's that Helen Reddy song, "I am woman, hear me whine"?

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 10:44:54   Reply   Private Reply

#11: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#8)

"Taken down" for a little grabass? Sound fair to you?

O'Reilly didn't pay $32M from his 4-year $100M contract for just "grabass".

That's astronomical. Even kidnappers of major heiresses don't ask for that much. It's really unprecedented.

I'm saying that after Halperin left and could no longer affect their careers, these women could have let it be known what kind of guy he was. They didn't. For 10 years.

The industry obviously has a code of maintaining a wall of silence to protect their established top players. They have a lot invested in Halperin or Chuck Todd or these other familiar media figures. They don't want some bitch ruining that for them. And these media figures typically float from one network to another several times over the course of their careers.

That makes me think that whatever he did was no big deal at the time and was considered part of the job.

So it would be fine with you if your own boss called you into his office and creep-stared you as he jerked off until he shot his load?

I'll ask again, how many women used their sexuality with Halperin to get what they wanted?

How does that even matter? Just because there are women who sell themselves as prostitutes to men does not therefore entitle those men to treat all women as though they are prostitutes. Which is exactly what you are saying here.

You certainly gravitate toward the most repulsive positions in creation. You have a knack for it.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-28 11:00:56   Reply   Private Reply

#12: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#9)

Either truthful or inventive. Either will get you the money.

I think there will be a lot of incentive for the networks, the pols, and Hollyweird to require a third independent person to be present at all meetings between a superior and a subordinate. And/or to require that those meetings take place only in rooms with full coverage by security cameras. And to forbid contact outside the workplace between employees and their bosses.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-28 11:03:50   Reply   Private Reply

#13: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#11)

O'Reilly didn't pay $32M from his 4-year $100M contract for just "grabass".

I would like to know what kind of behavior is punished with a $32 million fine. Parents sue deep-pocket cities for the wrongful death of their children and get maybe $5 million. I assume O'Reilly's "victim" is still alive.

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 11:13:54   Reply   Private Reply

#14: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#13)

I would like to know what kind of behavior is punished with a $32 million fine.

I'd say it was a vicious rape with a lot of abusive talk and that the woman had a recording of it.

They wouldn't pay that much for a he-says-she-says case. She had to have real evidence and/or impeccable witnesses.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-28 11:18:01   Reply   Private Reply

#15: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#11)

So it would be fine with you if your own boss called you into his office and creep-stared you as he jerked off until he shot his load?

"Oops. I see you're busy. I'll return once you're done".

"Just because there are women who sell themselves as prostitutes to men does not therefore entitle those men to treat all women as though they are prostitutes. Which is exactly what you are saying here."

Nope. I'm saying that aspect isn't even considered, much less discussed. Yet we both know it occurs.

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 11:20:00   Reply   Private Reply

#16: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#15)

"Oops. I see you're busy. I'll return once you're done".

There's a big producer now who is being accused by 30+ women of these assaults.

Apparently, he liked to maneuver them onto a couch and then get on the floor and start humping their leg until he jizzed on it.

So, you'd be fine if your much larger and much stronger boss started humping your leg like a dog? Maybe you were dressed provocatively and he just couldn't help himself because you're kinda slutty.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-28 11:24:56   Reply   Private Reply

#17: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#14)

I'd say it was a vicious rape with a lot of abusive talk and that the woman had a recording of it.

Well then, let me consult my Celebrity Vice Awards Chart to run those numbers. Vicious rape (click-click-clackety) $10 million, abusive talk (clack-clack) $3 million, audio recording (click-click-click-clackety) $20 million. ($40 million for video.)

OK. $32 million sounds about right.

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 11:28:45   Reply   Private Reply

#18: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#16)

Maybe you were dressed provocatively and he just couldn't help himself because you're kinda slutty.

Yes I do and yes I am, but still.

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 11:30:01   Reply   Private Reply

#19: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#16)

Apparently, he liked to maneuver them onto a couch and then get on the floor and start humping their leg until he jizzed on it.

I see nothing there about tying them up so they can't get away or putting a gag in their mouth so they can't scream. This is felonious unlawful restraint and sexual assault, not some harmless groping that deserves a slap in the face.

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 11:39:03   Reply   Private Reply

#20: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#12)

Just offices with glass walls and no curtains. Private yet visible.

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 11:43:09   Reply   Private Reply

#21: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#19)

I see nothing there about tying them up so they can't get away or putting a gag in their mouth so they can't scream. This is felonious unlawful restraint and sexual assault, not some harmless groping that deserves a slap in the face.

And if your boss decided who got promoted or not depending on who let him hump their legs...

Surely you see the problem.

You do tend to circle the most repulsive stuff like a moth drawn to a flame.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-28 11:49:03   Reply   Private Reply

#22: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#20)

Just offices with glass walls and no curtains. Private yet visible.

That may well be among the measures the media and Hollyweird and the pols end up taking. And why not?

You can always install blinds if the boss wants privacy, a common practice. But make it a fireable offense if any boss closes those blinds when a subordinate is in the room with her (or him).

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-28 11:50:30   Reply   Private Reply

#23: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#21)

And if your boss decided who got promoted or not depending on who let him hump their legs...

Then I have a choice, don't I?

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 11:54:22   Reply   Private Reply

#24: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#21)

You do tend to circle the most repulsive stuff like a moth drawn to a flame.

Just as you present the most repulsive stuff like a child showing his boo-boo.

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 11:56:44   Reply   Private Reply

#25: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#22)

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 12:34:09   Reply   Private Reply

#26: Tooconservative    To: misterwhite (#23)

Then I have a choice, don't I?

Okay. So you're saying that if your boss wants to hump your leg that you'd have to think about it.

Fine.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-28 12:35:31   Reply   Private Reply

#27: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#26)

Okay. So you're saying that if your boss wants to hump your leg that you'd have to think about it.

No. I'm saying I have a choice.

misterwhite posted on 2017-10-28 14:35:14   Reply   Private Reply

#28: tpaine    To: misterwhite, tooconservative, Y'ALL (#24)

Tooconservative --- You do tend to circle the most repulsive stuff like a moth drawn to a flame.

You certainly gravitate toward the most repulsive positions in creation. You have a knack for it.

misterwhite --- Just as you present the most repulsive stuff like a child showing his boo-boo.

Gotta love it when two deviant hypocrites take each other's measure...

tpaine posted on 2017-10-28 14:52:30   Reply   Private Reply

#29: Tooconservative    To: tpaine (#28)

Gotta love it when two deviant hypocrites take each other's measure...

If you're excited and hoping for a threeway, forget it, Gramps.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-28 14:56:18   Reply   Private Reply

#30: tpaine    To: Tooconservative (#29)

Thanks for posting another perfect example of your sick mind.

tpaine posted on 2017-10-28 15:00:03   Reply   Private Reply