The CBS The board of directors announced Monday that it was "choosing an outside lawyer to conduct an independent investigation" of the CEO Les Moonves following a New Yorker report in which six women accused Moonves of badual harbadment.

"No further action was taken on this subject at the meeting of the board of directors," said a press release

. The board announced that it would postpone CBS 'annual meeting of shareholders scheduled for Aug. 10. a new date, time and place.

Among the items on the agenda of the meeting of the Board of Directors: Would the CBS Board of Directors suspend Moonves pending an investigation? Who would be the interim CEO? If Moonves is sidelined, would he be able to get back to work and keep him in the long run? And removing Moonves from the equation would increase the chances of an unwanted merger with Viacom? (Friday, Shari Redstone, majority shareholder of Moonves, the majority shareholder of CBS, called for a "transparent" investigation and categorically denied that she had planted the story.)

The Price CBS shares fell 5% to $ 51.28 on Monday. The council had issued a statement a few hours before the publication of New Yorker's history, promising to fully investigate the claims, "review the findings and take appropriate action."

The New Yorker article, written by Ronan Farrow, contained half a dozen women who had professional relations with Moonves from the 1980s to the late 2000s. Four described forced touching or kissing during business meetings; the other two claimed that Moonves intimidated them physically or threatened to derail their careers.

Definition of badual harbadment: Americans do not agree on behavior

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#MeToo Movement, Moonves firmly denied the charges in a statement to USA TODAY.

"Throughout the time I spent at CBS, we promoted a culture of respect and opportunity for all employees." I acknowledge that there are dozens of 39 years ago, I may have made some women uncomfortable by making advances, they are mistakes, and I regret them a lot, but I have always understood and respected them – and respected the principle – that "no" means "no" and that I have never abused my position to harm or hinder anyone's career.

The statement continued: all are focused on how we help to improve our society, and we, at CBS, are determined to be part of the solution. "

Farrow, whose reporting on Harvey Weinstein earned him a Pulitzer, rebuffed at the thought that the allegations were all aged several decades during an interview on "New Day" CNN. "

" Our report is not that it was decades ago. The most recent of these cases was in the 2000s, "Farrow told Alisyn host Camerota." I will let his statements speak for themselves, but the article, I think, also speaks for itself. "

In the Friday statement of Moonves' wife, CBS host Julie Chen who tweeted that she supported him " (The two were married in 2004 and have an eight-year-old son together.)

" Obviously, I think any family member experiencing the repercussions of allegations of this kind, and I think in the sources of this story, the goal was not to overthrow Leslie Moonves, "Farrow" The goal here is to broadcast stories that have been buried – sometimes for a long time, because these women were terrified and protecting the next woman who comes, both in relation to the Moonves and compared to a culture around women and a culture of retribution that many people – dozens of people have said acros extended it concluded in these terms: "I think what these sources want, it's the responsibility . It is not a matter of demolishing an individual and, of course, it is painful for a family and for someone like Julie Chen. "

Chen made his own remarks on CBS Monday's" The Talk "broadcast.

" Now, some of you may be aware of what's going on in my life for a few days, " Chen told the audience :" I have issued the one and only statement I will make this topic on Twitter, and I will maintain this statement today. tomorrow, forever, forever. "

She was referring to a tweet written the day the story was published:" I have I know my husband, Leslie Moonves, since the mid-90s, and I have been married to him for almost 14 years, "she writes," Leslie is a good man and a loving father, a devoted husband and an inspiring company leader. a good, honest and moral human being, I fully support my husband and I stand behind him and his statement.

Monday also b He learned that Moonves' alma mater, Bucknell University, Pennsylvania, had cleaned his website of Moonves references following the New Yorker story (Moonves, graduated in 1971, delivered the opening speech in 2016.)

"Bucknell will not tolerate badual misconduct – on campus or elsewhere," said John Bravman, president of Bucknell, in a note to the university community.

Moonves has been with CBS since 1995. In 2009, he was promoted to CEO of the Television Network, and was appointed CEO of CBS Corporation in 2016.

Under his direction CBS has benefited from more than a decade as the most-watched network, with hits such as "The Big Bang Theory" and "NCIS." It has kept its popularity rating tight during the season 2017-18 that ended in May

Contribution: Jayme Deerwester and Andrea M andell; The Associated Press

For More: Sharon Osbourne, Lynda Carter, CBS Leaders Support Leslie Moonves amid Harbadment Allegations

For more information: ] John Oliver's Attack on Sexual Harbadment, The Moonves with the Help of Anita Hill

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