NBC Investigation: Execs Clueless On Matt Lauer

Matt Lauer

An investigation by NBCUniversal’s legal team exonerated NBC News management of any wrongdoing regarding Matt Lauer’s workplace conduct, the company said on Wednesday.

According to The NYTimes, the report came five months after NBC News fired Mr. Lauer, the former “Today” show star, following a complaint about inappropriate sexual behavior with a subordinate. Although the inquiry absolved network leaders, NBC also faced concerns — including from Mr. Lauer’s former “Today” show co-anchor, Ann Curry — about how thoroughly it had investigated itself.

“We found no evidence indicating that any NBC News or ‘Today’ show leadership, News H.R. or others in positions of authority in the News Division received any complaints about Lauer’s workplace behavior prior to Nov. 27, 2017,” the report concluded. In the wake of Mr. Lauer’s ouster, there had been questions about what executives at the network knew about their star’s behavior.

But unlike other news organizations, like Fox News and NPR, that have dealt with workplace misbehavior, NBC News opted not to have an outside legal firm conduct its review. The investigation was overseen by Kimberley D. Harris, the general counsel of NBCUniversal.



After facing some criticism on Wednesday, a company spokeswoman clarified that two law firms, Proskauer Rose and Davis Polk & Wardwell, had been consulted.

“Proskauer Rose and Davis Polk both reviewed the report and gave their stamp of approval on the methodology and findings and recommendations for next steps,” said Hilary Smith, the senior vice president of corporate communications at NBCUniversal.

Lawyers for those firms did not sit in on interviews with NBC employees or supervise the investigation, Ms. Smith said. Before the investigation ended, she said, “we consulted the law firms to be sure we conducted an appropriate process. There was nothing else they recommended we do.”

In response, Lauer issued a statement saying: "There are aspects of the NBC report with which I clearly disagree. However, I spent 25 wonderful years at the network, 20 of those at Today, and I'm extremely proud of what we accomplished as a team. On November 29, 2017, I was terminated by NBC after admitting to past relationships with co-workers. A day later I took responsibility for those relationships, apologized to the people I hurt and promised to begin the process of repairing the damage I had caused my family. I have worked every day since then to honor that promise."