Former “NBC Nightly News” anchor Tom Brokaw has been accused by two women of sexual misconduct, according to new media reports.
According to Variety, Brokaw made unwanted sexual advances to former NBC News war correspondent Linda Vester, including appearing at her hotel room even though he had not been invited. He also groped her and attempted to kiss her in the 1990s, she claims.
“Nobody acted like anything wrong was happening, but I was humiliated,” Vester told Variety.
Although Vester did not inform NBC News management of the incidents, she said she is sharing her story now to demonstrate the network has had an issue with workplace culture for years.
Additionally, an anonymous woman told the Washington Post that in the 1990s Brokaw placed her hands on his chest and suggested she visit his office to discuss her career — a move she said indicated more than just a talk about her future. She also did not report the interaction to the network’s management.
In a statement sent to the Post by NBC, Brokaw pushed back against Vester’s accusations.
“I met with Linda Vester on two occasions, both at her request, 23 years ago, because she wanted advice with respect to her career at NBC,” Brokaw said. “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.”
The reports come after NBC “Today” host Matt Lauer was fired late last year due to allegations of sexual misconduct.
Brokaw served as the managing editor and anchor of “NBC Nightly News’ from 1983 to 2004.
