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MSNBC, HBO Push Out Mark Halperin On Sexual Harassment Charges

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MSNBC has ousted infamous political journalist Mark Halperin as at least five women accuse him of molesting and sexually harassing them during his time as ABC News’ political director. Accusations range from requesting sex, to rubbing erections on women and groping their breasts.

Regarding a meeting in Halperin’s office during the early-2000s, one woman told CNN, “I went up to have a soda and talk and he just kissed me and grabbed my boobs. I just froze. I didn’t know what to do.”

Another alleged victim said she approached Halperin when she was about 25-years-old, for a gig during the presidential campaign in 2004. She told CNN, “The first meeting I ever had with him was in his office, and he just came up from behind — I was sitting in a chair from across his desk — and he came up behind me and [while he was clothed] he pressed his body on mine, his penis, on my shoulder.”

She explained that the harassment continued, and while on the road covering the campaigns for the election, Halperin propositioned her. She said, “He would say, ‘Why don’t you meet me upstairs?’ And I would say, ‘That’s not a good idea.’ And he would push the request further. Eventually I would just ignore him and go about my business.”

On the campaign trail, another former employee said she had a similar experience with the co-author of “Game Change.”

She told CNN, “I excused myself to go to the bathroom, and he was standing there when I opened the door propositioning [me] to go into the other bathroom to do something. It freaked me out. I came out of the ladies’ room, and he was just standing there. Like almost blocking the door.”

According to a report by The Post, “A fifth accuser also says Halperin rubbed his clothed but erect penis against her during his time at ABC News — although she wasn’t an employee. Halperin left ABC in 2007 for Time magazine and then joined Bloomberg in 2014 for a reported $1 million, according to CNN. He now serves as a political analyst on NBC News and often appears on MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe.’ His best-selling ‘Game Change’ was made into an HBO movie starring Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin. ‘For the last 11 years, I have had to watch this guy find success in every other news organization,’ one of the women told the network. None filed complaints against Halperin, 52, although the woman whose breasts were fondled says she did tell a mentor. The women — who have all stayed anonymous — did not report directly to Halperin at the time but say they have remained mum either because he wields a lot of power in the industry or out of embarrassment.”

The penis rubbing and breast-grabbing are denied by Halperin. He did however issue a statement in which he apologized and only admitted to “[pursuing] relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me.”

He also said, “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.’’

However, MSNBC’s statement didn’t make the departure sound much like it was Halperin’s decision. It said in a statement: “We find the story and the allegations very troubling. Mark Halperin is leaving his role as a contributor until the questions around his past conduct are fully understood.”

By Hannah Hayes

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