New harassment claims vs ‘Game Change’ journalist
LOS ANGELES (AP) — CNN reported on Friday that four more women have leveled allegations of sexual harassment against journalist Mark Halperin.
The news channel said that one woman claimed Halperin masturbated in her presence after she went to his
ABC News office to seek advice from him about her career at the news division, where she was a desk assistant.
CNN said a second woman alleged that the “Game Change” co-author threw her against a restaurant window and threatened to derail her career after she rebuffed his attempt to kiss her.
The woman, who told CNN she met Halperin when she was interning at the White House, said he called her shortly after the encounter and warned that she would never be hired in media or politics.
The four women, who were not identified in the CNN report, said the encounters took place between the late 1980s and 2006, during which time Halperin worked at ABC News in influential positions including political director.
CNN said Halperin has denied the complaints. The latest allegations bring the number of women accusing him of sexual misconduct to about 12.
Halperin has issued a lengthy apology on Twitter, saying he was “profoundly sorry for the pain and anguish I have caused by my past actions. I apologize sincerely to the women I mistreated.”