Rose out at CBS and PBS; Rep. Conyers investigated

Associated Press

NEW YORK

CBS News and PBS both cut ties to Charlie Rose on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after several women who worked with him on his PBS interview show alleged a pattern of sexual misconduct, including groping and walking naked in front of them.

Both organizations stressed the importance of providing a safe, professional workplace.

Rose joins a lengthening list of media figures who have lost jobs because of workplace behavior, including Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, Fox host Bill O’Reilly, NBC News political reporter Mark Halperin and National Public Radio news chief Michael Oreskes. The reckoning has come to entertainment, too, led by the assault allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The actions by CBS and PBS came after both institutions suspended Rose on Monday night.

“Despite Charlie’s important journalistic contribution to our news division, there is absolutely nothing more important, in this or any organization, than ensuring a safe, professional workplace—a supportive environment where people feel they can do their best work,” CBS News President David Rhodes said in a memo to staff on Tuesday. “We need to be such a place.”

Rhodes said it was important to maintaining credibility in reporting allegations involving media figures elsewhere that CBS manage basic standards of behavior at its own shop. Rose hosted “CBS This Morning” each weekday and was a contributor to “60 Minutes.”

Rose had no immediate reaction to his firing. In a statement late Monday, he apologized for his actions and said he was “deeply embarrassed.”

Several women have accused Rose of touching them on the breasts, buttocks or thigh, emerging naked from a shower when they were working at his residence and, in one case, calling a 21-year-old staffer to tell his fantasies of seeing her swim in the nude.

rep. conyers

John Conyers has dealt with various ethics investigations and a public corruption case that landed his wife in prison during a U.S. House career spanning more than five decades – longer than any other current member.

Allegations that the 88-year-old Michigan Democrat sexually harassed female staff members may be the toughest opponent yet for the party’s top member on the House Judiciary Committee.

“He’s not as sharp as he used to be,” said Adolph Mongo, a longtime follower of Detroit politics who has worked on mayoral campaigns. “This is a young person’s game now. You hate to see somebody who has put in 50 years ... go out like this.”

Leaders of the House Ethics Committee announced Tuesday that the panel had begun an investigation into Conyers after receiving allegations of sexual harassment and age discrimination involving staff members as well as using “official resources for impermissible personal purposes.”

Conyers said he would fully cooperate.

minn. resignation

Democratic state Sen. Dan Schoen will resign following a string of sexual misconduct allegations, his attorney said Tuesday, marking the first resignation from a recent tide of sexual harassment accusations in Minnesota politics.

Attorney Paul Rogosheske told the Star Tribune Schoen would announce his resignation and address the allegations during a news conference today. The 42-year-old first-term senator had faced widespread calls to resign from his Cottage Grove-area seat since allegations of sexual harassment first surfaced earlier this month.

The allegations against Schoen range from unwanted advances on a House candidate via text to sending photos of male genitalia to a female staffer in the Senate.