The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission has unanimously rejected a proposed settlement with former CBS chief executive Les Moonves, insisting on a stronger penalty. Moonves faced an $11,250 fine over allegations of interfering with a police investigation into sexual assault accusations against him.
Allegations of Police Probe Interference
Moonves was accused of closely collaborating with a Los Angeles Police Department official to obtain confidential information about a sexual assault victim’s police report. While he had agreed to the proposed fine, the ethics commission deemed the allegations “extremely egregious” and opted for a more severe penalty.
Details of Alleged Misconduct
Documents released last Friday revealed Moonves’ acknowledgment of working closely with a police official in 2017 to acquire details of the police report, including personal information about the accuser. Moonves was accused of three violations of city rules, with the commissioners emphasizing the need for a more stringent response.
Background of #MeToo Movement
The allegations against Moonves emerged in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, which exposed sexual abuse allegations across various industries. Moonves faced accusations from Phyllis Golden-Gottlieb, who reported to the LAPD that she had been sexually assaulted by Moonves in 1986 and 1988. The allegations became public in 2018, and Golden-Gottlieb passed away in 2022.
Legal Ramifications
Moonves’ interference with the police investigation came to light in 2022, resulting in a settlement with CBS, where both parties agreed to pay $30.5 million for withholding information about the sexual assault allegations. Despite acknowledging relations with accusers, Moonves denied the assault claims, and the Los Angeles County district attorney declined to file criminal charges in 2018.
