NPR Reporter Forced To Retire After Allegations

Daniel Zwerdling

Daniel Zwerdling, a longtime investigative correspondent with NPR, has retired after a tenure spanning nearly four decades. The network's announcement Tuesday coincided with published allegations of sexual harassment against the Peabody-winning journalist, including claims of unwanted kisses and inappropriate conversations.

Zwerdling, for his part, has publicly stated the allegations are false, according to NPR.

In an email to staff Tuesday, NPR's senior vice president for news and editorial direction, Christopher Turpin, said, "We fully support his decision to leave the organization." Turpin did not mention the allegations against Zwerdling, but he stressed the network's ongoing commitment to its investigative team, of which Zwerdling had been an integral part for years.

"Our investigative work is the [linchpin] in NPR's drive to report high impact stories," Turpin added.

Zwerdling's departure came to light on the same day Current, a trade publication covering public media, surfaced several sexual harassment claims against him. Current reported that at least two NPR staffers had complained to the network's human resources department about Zwerdling's inappropriate behavior.

Six current and former staffers and interns spoke to Current about similar behavior by Zwerdling when they "were interns or young producers."

"One of the women who reported Zwerdling to HR said he tried to kiss her," Current added. "Three said they had witnessed inappropriate behavior."