Rachel Maddow, Andrea Mitchell, and More Female Colleagues Co-Sign Letter Supporting Tom Brokaw
A group of female journalists has penned a letter in support of embattled former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw.
On Thursday, reports surfaced that Brokaw sexually harassed war correspondent Linda Vester in the 1990’s. Another unnamed woman also came forward with a claim of sexual misconduct.
In response, Brokaw adamantly denied the accusations, railing against Vester and insisting his accuser has unleashed “a torrent of unsubstantiated criticism and attacks on me more than twenty years after I opened the door for her.”
He also appears Brokaw has the support of a number of high profile NBC journalists including Rachel Maddow and Andrea Mitchell.
In a letter obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, both past and current colleagues of Brokaw write that the seasoned journalist “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.”
The letter concludes, “We know him to be a man of tremendous decency and integrity.”
Read the full letter, via The Hollywood Reporter, below:
Subject: Letter on Tom Brokaw
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.
We are current and former colleagues of Tom’s, who have worked with him over a period spanning four decades. We are producers, correspondents, anchors, directors, executives, researchers, personal assistants, editors and technical staff.
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.
Signed,
Susanna Aaron
Anne Binford Allen
Heather Allan
Marilyn Altman
Liz Bowyer
Mary Casalino
Christine Colvin Casper
Martha Cotton
Karen Curry
Sara Cusimano
Helene Darvick
Linda Ellman
Judy Farinet
Dianne Festa
Tammy Fine
Mary Laurence Flynn
Susan Friedman
Soraya Gage
Maralyn Gelefsky
Cheryl Gould
Erika Beck Grothues
Colleen Halpin
Jody Henenfeld
Susan Morris Holey
Julie Holstein
Julie Huang
Peggy Hubble
Kiko Itasaka
Nancy Jacoby
Kat Keeney
Ann Kolbell
Audrey Beles Kolina
Susan LaSalla
Rachel Maddow
Donna Mastrangelo-Ryan
Andrea Mitchell
Mauri Moore
Frieda Morris
Elena Nachmanoff
Michele Neubert
Kelly O’Donnell
Bonnie Optekman
Mary Alice O’Rourke
Nancy Doyle Palmer
Polly Powell
Meaghan Rady
Elizabeth Vaughan Romaine
Amy Rosenberg
Stephanie Ruhle
Bita Ryan
Ruby Shamir
Maria Shriver
Robin Skolnick
Andrea Smith
Patricia Sullivan
Clare Duffy Swift
Yuka Tachibana
Bambi Tascarella
Zoya Taylor
Dee Dee Thomas
Anne Thompson
Kelly Venardos
Kristen Welker
Carolyn Wheatley
Mary Wolf
Update: After the publication of the letter, MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski sent out a tweet, calling for her name to be added to the list of those showing support.
[image via Getty images]
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