‘No consent’ in Lauer link

THE woman whose accusations of sexual harassment against Matt Lauer led to his firing from the “Today” show says the relationship was not a consensual affair. Investigative journalist Ronan Farrow has spoken to the as-yet-unnamed woman for his explosive new book, “Catch and Kill,” as Page Six has reported. She will publicly identify herself in the book for the first time. While her relationship has been characterized in the past as an “affair” by NBC sources, her lawyer Ari Wilkenfeld told Page Six: “At no point in time did I say or do anything to encourage NBC to downplay my client’s allegations. We clearly indicated an absence of consent.” NBC — whose news chief, Andy Lack, has called Lauer’s alleged behavior “reprehensible” and “appalling” — declined to comment on this. At the time of Lauer’s firing, the network said it had determined he engaged in “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a colleague — who subsequently rose to the role of a “Today” producer — starting at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. She went to NBC chiefs about their interactions on Nov. 27, 2017. Lauer was sacked the next night after Lack went over to his Upper East Side apartment to fire him. An NBC source with knowledge of the situation told us earlier this year: “This was not a fling; it was an affair. She went and complained, and Matt was fired. He admitted it when Andy confronted him.” The producer no longer works at NBC, it is believed. We revealed that she was an assistant to Meredith Vieira. Following Lauer’s firing, Wilkenfeld said in interviews that his client had “detailed egregious acts of sexual harassment and misconduct by Mr. Lauer” in a meeting with members of NBC News’ human resources and legal departments. Wilkenfeld said NBC News “acted quickly and responsibly” in investigating the claims and firing Lauer. Reps for Lauer have declined to comment.