CBS board orders full investigation of Moonves allegations

The CBS board of directors has brought in legal firms Covington & Burlington and Debevoise & Plimpton to conduct a full investigation into recent harassment allegations against chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves and wider cultural issues at CBS.

Les Moonves

At Covington & Burling the investigation will be led by Nancy Kestenbaum, and at Debevoise & Plimpton it will be led by Mary Jo White.

To help facilitate the investigation, a special committee of board members has been formed comprised of Bruce S. Gordon, Linda Griego and Robert N. Klieger. Moonves will have no role in the investigation and is entirely removed from it.

The board had appointed Gordon to serve as lead independent director of the board of directors.

CBS’ latest move arrives after Moonves was accused of sexual harassment by six women on Friday. This is the third meeting the board of directors has taken as a result of the news.

The CBS board said in a statement it, “takes these allegations seriously and is committed to acting in the best interest of the company and all of its shareholders, and is confident that the employees of CBS will continue to perform at a high level as this process unfolds.”

This week, Moonves has also bee suspended from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts’ board of councilors and the he has voluntarily exited his role as commissioner in the Anita Hill-led Commission on Eliminating Sexual Harrassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace.