CBS board reportedly knew of Les Moonves sexual assault allegation months ago

LA
County prosecutors have declined to press charges against CBS CEO
Les Moonves (pictured in September), stemming from an allegation
that he sexually assaulted a woman he worked with in the late
1980s.
Chris Pizzello/Associated
Press

• The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that the CBS
  board learned months ago of a police investigation into an
  allegation of sexual assault against the company’s CEO Les
  Moonves.
• According to the Times, the board hired outside counsel
  to look into the matter, which concluded “no further
  investigation was warranted.”
• Moonves was accused by six women of sexual misconduct
  in a New Yorker report last week.
• The board met on Monday to discuss Moonves’ future, and
  decided to hire an outside law firm to investigate the
  allegations.
• However, the board took no action to suspend Moonves
  during the investigation.
• Many female CBS executives and personalities have
  publicly supported Moonves.

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The CBS board of directors learned of a sexual assault allegation
against the company’s CEO Les Moonves months ago,
the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday, citing “two people
familiar with the matter.”

According to The Los Angeles Times, Moonves made the
board aware of a Los Angeles Police Department investigation into
an alleged sexual assault by Moonves. The board hired outside
counsel to look into the matter, which concluded that “no further
investigation was warranted,” according to the Times. No
charges were filed by police against Moonves.

CBS did not immediately return a request for
comment.

Six women accused Moonves of sexual misconduct in an
explosive New Yorker report last week by
investigative journalist Ronan Farrow, raising questions about
the overall culture within CBS. The women alleged that Moonves
forcibly touched or kissed them, or negatively influenced their
careers when they did not succumb to his advances.

On Monday, the board met to discuss Moonves’
future at the company and how to proceed with an
investigation into the allegations. The board decided to select
an outside law firm to investigate, but took no action to suspend
Moonves during the investigation.

Hollywood has largely remained silent on the Moonves
allegations compared to other Me Too era cases. Many female
executives and personalities at CBS, including Moonves’ wife
Julie Chen, have publicly supported
him.

While CBS has admitted that Moonves tried to kiss one of
the accusers, actress Illeana Douglas, the company and Moonves
have predominantly denied allegations of assault or
retaliation.

“I recognize that there were times decades ago when I may
have made some women uncomfortable by making advances, Moonves
said in a statement to the New Yorker. “Those were mistakes, and
I regret them immensely. But I always understood and respected —
and abided by the principle — that ‘no’ means ‘no,’ and I have
never misused my position to harm or hinder anyone’s
career.”