Last night CNN reported that Morning Joe contributor and best-selling author Mark Halperin has been accused of sexual harassment by five women.
The harassment allegedly took place when Halperin was the political director at ABC News in the mid-late ’90s and his behavior reportedly ranged from “propositioning employees for sex” to “kissing and grabbing one’s breasts against her will.” Three of the women accused him of “pressing an erection against their bodies while he was clothed.”
This news was addressed by host Mika Brzezinski this morning as Halperin was noticeably absent from the set of Morning Joe today. In a rather solemn turn, Brzezinski adresssed the camera and said:
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.” 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.”
Since we now find ourselves in an era where there are increased amounts disinfecting sunlight revealing past (alleged) behavior, more and more media outlets and television programs are being ensnared by contributors’ past. Kudos to Morning Joe for demonstrating exactly how to such a potentially awkward news story with both honesty and grace.
Watch the clip above courtesy of MSNBC.
–image via screencap–
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