MSNBC Confirms Payment to Chris Matthews Staffer after Sexual Harassment Claim

MSNBC has confirmed that the company was forced to make a sizable payment to a former employee after she claimed she was sexually harassed by news anchor Chris Matthews.

Now in today’s day and age accusations are a dime a dozen, but few pay out the big bucks unless there is some truth lurking behind the rumors.

The woman complained to CNBC executives about Matthews making inappropriate comments and jokes about her while in the company of others.

The MSNBC spokesman said that they thoroughly reviewed the situation at the time and that Matthews received a formal reprimand. Based on people who were involved in the matter, the network concluded that the comments were inappropriate and juvenile but were not intended to be taken as propositions.

The Daily Caller reports more details on this story.

Two sources familiar with the situation told The Daily Caller that Matthews paid $40,000 to settle with an assistant producer on his show, “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” in 1999 after she accused him of harassment. An MSNBC spokesperson contested that claim to the Caller, saying the company instead paid significantly less as part of a severance package.

Nonetheless, MSNBC consistently refuses to confirm or deny if this was Matthews first “offense”.

MSNBC declined to comment on whether the employee left because of Matthews or whether this was the only claim in Matthews’ history at the company.

The Fake News Industrial Complex does not attract those with high morals.

He is the latest in a string of high-profile men in media to be accused of sexual misconduct, particularly at NBC.

In late November, NBC News fired Matt Lauer, longtime host of “The Today Show,” after an employee complained about inappropriate behavior. Additional women accused him of sexual harassment and assault, and some insisted that executives at the network knew about his behavior.

NBC also cut ties with “Game Change” author Mark Halperin in October after a dozen women accused him of sexual harassment and groping, and senior vice president Matt Zimmerman for failing to report relationships he had with women who worked for him

The Hollywood sex scandals…