Linda Vester (pictured) accused NBC anchor Tom Brokaw of assault, and says she was shocked by his ‘vehemence and spitefulness,’ towards her and her claims
One of the women who has alleged sexual misconduct against NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw, says she is appalled by his reactions to her claims.
Linda Vester, 52, wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post saying she was shocked at what she called his ‘vehemence and spitefulness,’ towards her and her allegations.
‘He denied the truth and instead attacked my career and my motives. Shaming and blaming a victim has long been the effective strategy when women speak out,’ she added.
Vester added she is not seeking a settlement, but she did express her concern over NBC’s usage of the 78-year-old Brokaw’s various supporters who signed a petition for him.
‘While I expected Brokaw to object to my revealing his behavior, I didn’t expect many prominent and important women at the network to sign a letter supporting him.
‘Their statement says Brokaw treated them with respect. I do not doubt that he did. I know he helped some women in their careers.
The 78-year-old anchor Tom Brokaw penned a scathing letter to colleagues speaking out against Linda Vester’s allegations of sexual misconduct against him
‘NBC also required its own journalists to mention the petition of support concurrently with reports on the harassment story. There is nothing wrong with standing up for a friend or a co-worker.
‘But NBC News’s actions had the effect of communicating to other victims that they wouldn’t be believed and would be better off staying silent,’ Vester cautioned.
Vester – a former war correspondent for NBC who later anchored NBC News at Sunrise before leaving the network in 1999 to join Fox News – accused Brokaw of making unwanted advances on two occasions.
She told The Washington Post and Variety magazine that Brokaw, 26 years her elder, forcibly tried to kiss her in 1994 and 1995, while he was the network’s star anchor.
Brokaw said in response that he met Vester twice, ‘both at her request’ because she wanted career advice.
‘The meetings were brief, cordial and appropriate, and despite Linda’s allegations, I made no romantic overtures towards her at that time or any other,’ he said in a statement.
Brokaw denied the allegations made by Vester in a scathing email that was obtained and published by the Hollywood Reporter.
‘It is 4am on the first day of my new life as an accused predator in the universe of American journalism,’ wrote Brokaw.
‘I was ambushed and then perp walked across the pages of The Washington Post and Variety as an avatar of male misogyny, taken to the guillotine and stripped of any honor and achievement I had earned in more than a half century of journalism and citizenship.’
Megyn Kelly warned the over 60 female employees at NBC who defended Brokaw in a letter by saying: ‘You don’t know what you don’t know’
Brokaw went on to write about the pain Vester’s accusations have caused him, and made no effort to hide his disdain for the former NBC employee.
‘I am angry, hurt and unmoored from what I thought would be the final passage of my life and career, a mix of written and broadcast journalism, philanthropy and participation in environmental and social causes that have always given extra meaning to my life,’ noted Brokaw.
‘Instead I am facing a long list of grievances from a former colleague who left NBC News angry that she had failed in her pursuit of stardom.’
He continued: ‘She has unleashed a torrent of unsubstantiated criticism and attacks on me more than twenty years after I opened the door for her and a new job at Fox news.’
Brokaw then tried to explain what happened between himself and Vester on the night in question, while also criticizing how the press handled the claims.
‘Linda Vester was given the run of the Washington Post and Variety to vent her grievances, to complain that I tickled her without permission (you read that right), that I invaded her hotel room, accepted an invitation to her apartment under false pretenses and in general was given a free hand to try to destroy all that I have achieved with my family, my NBC career, my writing and my citizenship,’ stated Brokaw.
‘My family and friends are stunned and supportive. My NBC colleagues are bewildered that Vester, who had limited success at NBC News, a modest career at Fox and a reputation as a colleague who had trouble with the truth was suddenly the keeper of the flame of journalistic integrity.’
NBC initially appeared to looking into Brokaw’s behavior after an internal memo sent by Chairman Andy Lack was released.
‘As you have all seen now in reports, there are allegations against Tom Brokaw, made by a former NBC News journalist, which Tom emphatically denies. As we’ve shown, we take allegations such as these very seriously, and act on them quickly and decisively when the facts dictate,’ wrote Lack.
Mad: ‘I deeply resent the pain and anger she inflicted on my wife, daughters and granddaughters,’ said Brokaw (above with his wide Meredith)
Vester says that NBC is also using the signed letter of support by 60 women in a way that tells other alleged victims of sexual misconduct that it is not okay to come forward
‘The same report included claims against Matt Lauer. As you know, since the week we terminated Matt’s employment, NBC Universal has been conducting a review, led by general counsel Kim Harris -who has extensive experience in conducting reviews of this kind- with a team of legal and HR leaders. Kim has advised us that the review is nearing its conclusion, and we will have findings and further steps to share with you as soon as next week.’
Lack then closed out the memo by stating: ‘Once again, our highest priority is to ensure we have a workplace environment where everyone feels safe and protected. We are absolutely committed to making this a reality–there can be no exception.’
Brokaw visited the network’s offices in New York City just a few hours after Megyn Kelly warned her co-workers to be careful about voicing their support for Brokaw in the wake of sexual misconduct claims.
‘You don’t know what you don’t know, and that’s not in any way to impugn Tom, who I love and who’s been so good to me,’ Kelly said on Today.
Two days earlier, over 60 women including Andrea Mitchell, Rachel Maddow, Mika Brzezinski and Maria Shriver signed a letter defending Brokaw.
‘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,’ read the letter signed by those women.
‘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.’
TOM BROKAW DENIES SEX ASSAULT CLAIM IN EMAIL
It is 4:00 am on the first day of my new life as an accused predator in the universe of American journalism. I was ambushed and then perp walked across the pages of The Washington Post and Variety as an avatar of male misogyny, taken to the guillotine and stripped of any honor and achievement I had earned in more than a half century of journalism and citizenship.
I am angry, hurt and unmoored from what I thought would be the final passage of my life and career, a mix of written and broadcast journalism, philanthropy and participation in environmental and social causes that have always given extra meaning to my life.
Tom Brokaw and wife Meredith in 2016
Instead I am facing a long list of grievances from a former colleague who left NBC News angry that she had failed in her pursuit of stardom. She has unleashed a torrent of unsubstantiated criticism and attacks on me more than twenty years after I opened the door for her and a new job at Fox News.
Linda Vester was given the run of the Washington Post and Variety to vent her grievances, to complain that I tickled her without permission (you read that right), that I invaded her hotel room, accepted an invitation to her apartment under false pretenses and in general was given a free hand to try to destroy all that I have achieved with my family, my NBC career, my writing and my citizenship.
My family and friends are stunned and supportive. My NBC colleagues are bewildered that Vester, who had limited success at NBC News, a modest career at Fox and a reputation as a colleague who had trouble with the truth was suddenly the keeper of the flame of journalistic integrity.
Her big charge: that on two occasions more than 20 years ago I made inappropriate and uninvited appearances in her apartment and in a hotel room. As an eager beginner, Vester, like others in that category, was eager for advice and camaraderie with senior colleagues. She often sought me out for informal meetings, including the one she describes in her New York hotel room. I should not have gone but I emphatically did not verbally and physically attack her and suggest an affair in language right out of pulp fiction.
She was coy, not frightened, filled with office gossip including a recent rumor of an affair. As that discussion advanced she often reminded me she was a Catholic and that she was uncomfortable with my presence. So I left, 23 years later to be stunned by her melodramatic description of the meeting. A year or so later, as I passed through London after covering end of WWII ceremonies in Moscow, I saw her in the office. chatted and agreed to a drink later. (If NY was so traumatic, why a reunion?) She knew a bar but by that late hour it was closed so she suggested her nearby apartment (not, “Well, no where to go. See you tomorrow).
Again, her hospitality was straight forward with lots of pride in her reporting in the Congo and more questions about NY opportunities.
As I remember, she was at one end of a sofa, I was at the other. It was late and I had been up for 24 hours. As I got up to leave I may have leaned over for a perfunctory goodnight kiss but my memory is that it happened at the door – on the cheek. No clenching her neck. That move she so vividly describes is NOT WHO I AM. Not in high school, college or thereafter.
She came to NY and had mixed success on the overnight news. As I remember her try out on TODAY did not go well. Her contract was not renewed.
Here is a part of her story she somehow left out. I think I saw her in the hallways and asked how it was going. She was interested in cable start up and I said I didn’t think that was going anywhere. What about Fox, which was just building up? She was interested and followed me to my office where, while she listened in, I called Roger Ailes. He said, “send her over.”
She got the job. I never heard from her or saw her again. I was aware that she became a big fan of Ailes, often praising his considerable broadcasting instincts in public. But when he got in trouble on sexual matters, not a peep from this woman who now describes her self as the keeper of the flame for Me:Too.
I am not a perfect person. I’ve made mistakes, personally and professionally. But as I write this at dawn on the morning after a drive by shooting by Vester, the Washington Post and Variety, I am stunned by the free ride given a woman with a grudge against NBC News, no distinctive credentials or issue passions while at FOX.
As a private citizen who married a wealthy man she has been active in social causes but she came to Me:Too late, portraying herself as a den mother. In the intervening years since we met on those two occasions, she had no reason to worry I could affect her career.
Some of her relatives by marriage are very close friends. She couldn’t pick up the phone and say, “I’d like to talk. I have issues from those two meetings 20 years ago?” Instead she became a character assassin. Strip away all of the hyperbole and what has she achieved? What was her goal? Hard to believe it wasn’t much more Look At Me than Me:Too.
I deeply resent the pain and anger she inflicted on my wife, daughters and granddaughters – all women of considerable success and passion about women’s rights which they personify in their daily lives and professions. We’ll go on as a family that pursues social justice in medical emergency rooms, corporate offices, social therapy, African women’s empowerment and journalism. And no one woman’s assault can take that away.
I am proud of who I am as a husband, father, grandfather, journalist and citizen. Vester, the Washington Post and Variety cannot diminish that. But in this one woman piece of sensational claims they are trying.
Tom Brokaw