UPDATE: His book has been canceled.
BREAK: PENGUIN CANCELS PLANS TO PUBLISH MARK HALPERIN'S BOOK ON 2016 ELECTION pic.twitter.com/ABPhaP21rz
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) October 26, 2017
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Author and political analyst Mark Halperin has been accused of sexual harassment by five women and will no longer be appearing on NBC in the meantime, the network announced on Thursday. NBC said that they found Halperin's conduct "very troubling" and that he would be leaving his role "until the questions about his past conduct are fully understood."
NEW: Halperin leaving his role as NBC analyst, per network statement pic.twitter.com/iptgSuFCKH
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) October 26, 2017
Early Thursday morning, CNN published an exclusive piece detailing that five women at ABC, where Halperin was employed until 2007, say that he acted inappropriately to some of the junior employees at the network. Multiple women allege that Halperin propositioned them, and others say that he pressed his genitals against them and kissed them against their will. Halperin admitted to CNN that his behavior at the time was inappropriate and that he apologizes.
"During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me," Halperin said in a statement to CNN Wednesday night. "I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain. For that, I am deeply sorry and I apologize. Under the circumstances, I'm going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation."
The women say that they did not report Halperin's conduct as they were afraid of blowback due to his prominent position at the network. One woman said that she told a mentor about what had happened, but it's not clear if upper management at the network were ever informed. In a statement to CNN, ABC News said that they did not receive complaints about Halperin during his time working there.
Halperin is the co-author of "Game Change," and "Double Down: Game Change 2012," about the 2008 and 2012 elections.