Leaks in CBS Inquiry Raise Concerns of Legal Exposure -- WSJ
December 11 2018 - 3:02AM
Dow Jones News
By Emily Glazer and Joe Flint
This article is being republished as part of our daily
reproduction of WSJ.com articles that also appeared in the U.S.
print edition of The Wall Street Journal (December 11, 2018).
Some CBS Corp. directors are concerned that recent leaks from
the investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by the
broadcaster's former chief executive, Leslie Moonves, could result
in legal exposure for the company or people found to have failed to
prevent the disclosures, people familiar with the situation
say.
At a board meeting Monday, CBS directors aired frustrations that
details of the investigation have spilled into public view through
articles in the New York Times, and they stepped up pressure on the
law firms handling it, Covington & Burling LLP and Debevoise
& Plimpton LLP, one of the people said. Some directors have
called for a forensic investigation of the leaks, the person
added.
The law firms were involved in the board meeting, and Mary Jo
White, Debevoise's lead attorney in the case, apologized to the
board for the unplanned revelations, the person said. A Times
article citing a draft version of the investigators' report said it
concluded that Mr. Moonves destroyed evidence and misled
investigators, and said the board would have grounds to deny the
executive $120 million in severance pay.
The legal concerns about the leaks stem from the fact that
circulation of a draft report may have compromised the
confidentiality promised to people who cooperated with
investigators, the people familiar with the situation said.
CBS will hold its annual meeting Tuesday. The board, which
includes several new members after an overhaul in September, is
expected to hear the final findings of the probe soon. It isn't
clear if that will come in written form or an oral
presentation.
Two women's organizations, UltraViolet and NOW NY, are planning
a protest outside the CBS shareholder meeting to demand that Mr.
Moonves not be paid.
Mr. Moonves, who towered over the TV landscape as a successful
CBS boss for more than a decade, was forced to resign in September
amid allegations that he sexually harassed and assaulted multiple
women during his lengthy career as a Hollywood kingmaker.
He has denied having had nonconsensual sexual relations, and his
lawyer has said he "cooperated extensively and fully with
investigators." If Mr. Moonves is denied severance by the CBS
board, he can seek arbitration. The board is expected to decide Mr.
Moonves's fate by Jan. 31, though it could take action sooner.
Little headway has been made in a search for a permanent
successor or successors to Mr. Moonves, people familiar with the
matter said. Longtime CBS Operating Chief Joseph Ianniello has been
acting CEO and is a candidate for the permanent role.
Besides Mr. Moonves, the investigation is also looking at the
broader culture of CBS and, in particular, at CBS News. Last year,
morning-show host Charlie Rose was forced out after the Washington
Post reported on allegations that he engaged in inappropriate
behavior toward women. Earlier this year, the New Yorker reported
on harassment allegations not only against Mr. Moonves but also "60
Minutes" executive producer Jeff Fager.
Mr. Fager denied any wrongdoing and was let go after sending a
message to a CBS reporter covering the allegations that was
interpreted as threatening.
Mr. Rose acknowledged to the Post behaving "insensitively" at
times but added, "I do not believe that all of these allegations
are accurate."
Write to Emily Glazer at emily.glazer@wsj.com and Joe Flint at
joe.flint@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 11, 2018 02:47 ET (07:47 GMT)
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