Former Farrow producer rips NBC: 'We were lied to over and over' | TheHill - The Hill

A former NBC News producer who worked with investigative journalist Ronan Farrow is alleging that he was repeatedly lied to about the network's handling of the Pulitzer Prize-winner's reporting of sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein and former "Today" show host Matt LauerMatthew (Matt) Todd LauerWomen's advocacy group calls on DNC to cancel MSNBC debate after rejection of new Lauer investigation Former NBC hosts call for reversal of rejection of sexual misconduct investigation NBC-Universal rejects outside investigation of Matt Lauer MORE.

"I have no animosity against these people, but it's clear to me that we were lied to over and over, and it's just not right," Rich McHugh told Fox News host Tucker CarlsonTucker CarlsonClinton attacks on Gabbard become flashpoint in presidential race Zuckerberg launches public defense of Facebook as attacks mount NBC-Universal rejects outside investigation of Matt Lauer MORE Tuesday night during a discussion of Farrow's new best-selling book. "Especially coming from a news organization."

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"It’s the very crux of what they do ... it’s their mission is to tell the truth," McHugh added. "And I think they not only lost sight of it, but ... they didn’t adhere to their basic principles."

The allegation comes after McHugh wrote a scathing article in Vanity Fair pointing the finger specifically at NBC News and MSNBC Chairman Andrew Lack and NBC News President Noah Oppenheim, alleging that the two executives killed Farrow's reporting on the former Hollywood mogul.

"[NBC News and MSNBC Chairman Andrew] Lack and Oppenheim were the ones who were lying," McHugh wrote.

"They not only personally intervened to shut down our investigation of Weinstein, they even refused to allow me to follow up on our work after Weinstein’s history of sexual assault became front-page news," he added.

Oppenheim has vigorously pushed back against bombshell accusations made in Farrow's new book, saying the network has "no secrets and nothing to hide."

"Matt Lauer's actions were abhorrent, and the anger and sadness he caused continue to this day. As we've said since the moment he was fired, his abuses should never have happened. Ronan Farrow's book takes that undeniable fact and twists it into a lie — alleging we were a 'company with a lot of secrets.' We have no secrets and nothing to hide," Oppenheim wrote in a lengthy memo sent to staff obtained by The Hill earlier this month.

NBC News also pushed back on Farrow's claim of multiple settlements to Lauer accusers.

"The first time we learned about Matt Lauer's sexual misconduct in the workplace was the night of November 27, 2017 and he was fired in 24 hours. Any suggestion that we knew prior to that evening, paid any 'hush money,' or tried to cover up any aspect of Lauer's appalling behavior is absolutely false," the network said in a statement.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that NBC renewed Oppenheim's contract months before Farrow's book was published.

Farrow won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for his reporting in the New Yorker on Weinstein that spurred the #MeToo movement.

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https://thehill.com/homenews/media/467053-former-farrow-producer-rips-nbc-executives-oppenheim-we-were-lied-to-over-and

2019-10-23 12:05:41Z
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