Linda Vester, a former NBC News reporter who accused network icon Tom Brokaw of sexual harassment, renewed her call for an independent investigation into misconduct claims at her former network and urged NBC’s parent company, Comcast, to bring in outside counsel to manage it.
“Comcast should hire outside counsel to conduct a transparent inquiry, with all current and former employees able to speak freely,” said Vester in an editorial published to Fox News Wednesday evening. “Investigators should be allowed access to all relevant documents and Comcast should publish in full what they find.”
Vester additionally called for those investigators to be given full access to people and documents within the company and for the findings to be made public. She added that the company should also do away with non-disclosure agreements and forced arbitration for sexual misconduct cases.
“Sweeping problems under the rug should not be the corporate goal – the goal should be creating a respectful culture where all employees know they are safe -not just those accused of being predators,” she said.
Vester drove the point home during an appearance on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” that same evening, and with a tough ad in the New York Times on Thursday morning.
Reps for NBC did not immediately respond to request for comment from TheWrap. To date, all of the network’s investigations of misconduct have been internal and led by in-house counsel. Vester left NBC News in 1999 and worked at Fox News from 1999 until 2005.
Brokaw, a celebrated correspondent who has been with NBC since 1966, was accused by Vester and another women of misconduct in the 1990s. Vester said while employed at NBC, a decades older Brokaw came to her hotel room uninvited and suggested the possibility of an affair between the two.
“What do you want from me?” Vester recalled asking.
“An affair of more than passing affection,” he responded, according to Vester in an account first published by the Washington Post.
Brokaw has consistently denied the allegations and NBC moved swiftly to close ranks around the anchor. In April of this year, a letter was circulated from women including megawatt names like Rachel Maddow and Mika Brzezinski attesting to Brokaw’s good character.
“Tom has treated each of us with fairness and respect. He has given each of us opportunities for advancement and championed our successes throughout our careers,” it read. “As we have advanced across industries — news, publishing, law, business and government — Tom has been a valued source of counsel and support. We know him to be a man of tremendous decency and integrity.”