Report: Moonves obstructed investigation

NEW YORK >> An internal investigation of former CBS chief Les Moonves has turned up more evidence of sexual misconduct as well as lying and destruction of evidence, throwing into jeopardy his $120 million severance package, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

A look at what’s known about the scandal so far: according to the Times. He also deleted numerous text messages and was “evasive and untruthful at times” under questioning, the report says.

Among other things, investigators received reports about a network employee who was “on call” to perform oral sex on Moonves. Investigators also found that he received oral sex from at least four CBS employees “under circumstances that sound transactional and improper to the extent that there was no hint of any relationship, romance, or reciprocity.”

The investigators say they interviewed 11 of the 17 women they knew had accused Moonves of misconduct and found their accounts credible.

The 59-page report is to be presented to CBS’s board of directors before the company’s annual meeting next week, the Times said. with some of the women.

Moonves, 69, is one of the most powerful entertainment industry figures to be brought down by the #MeToo movement. Others include Hollywood studio boss Harvey Weinstein, NBC “Today” show host Matt Lauer and PBS talk show host Charlie Rose.

Moonves made his mark at CBS with sitcoms such as “Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory,” reality TV such as “Survivor” and procedural dramas like “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “NCIS.”