Comcast responds to Linda Vester's request that NBC News has not changed since the dismissal of Lauer; Vester riposte

Comcast, owner of NBCUniversal, reacted on Thursday to the claims of former NBC channel correspondent and former Fox News anchor Linda Vester, who said that the culture of sexual misconduct towards women of NBC News had barely changed this year's cloud of disturbing harassment claims.

However, Vester quickly responded by demanding "the truth" behind the network's actions.

"The NBCUniversal Comcast survey was thorough, objective and conducted outside the News division. Kim Harris, General Counsel for NBCUniversal, led this process with a team of independent law and human resources professionals from News, "said Comcast, as reported by Variety. "In addition, we consulted with two large outside law firms – Proskauer Rose and Davis Polk – who both validated the methodology, findings and conclusions of the investigation. NBCUniversal released a detailed report on the findings in May and has since put in place new policies and procedures to further encourage reporting of complaints and provide increased training to employees and managers on workplace conduct.

Vester responded to Comcast's statement, through its group Silence Breakers Alliance: "Comcast's today statement, which includes patently false claims, only underscores why it is essential that the board of directors will intervene now and get the truth. The internal investigation was neither thorough nor objective, as evidenced by statements by several victims of Matt Lauer that they were never interviewed. Similarly, several personalities on the show, including Ann Curry, said they had not been interviewed, although they also have information about Lauer and the officials who would have covered him. "

The statement concluded: "It is bad enough that Andy Lack runs NBC News, which would have been sexually inappropriate with subordinates and retaliated against them in the past. It's even worse that NBC Universal president Steve Burke is encouraging someone so compromised to lead the information division. And it is appalling that Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast, apparently authorizes today's statement. This is a discredit for the "family company" built by his father. And that sends a frightening message to all the victims of NBC News: this company seems, in our opinion, to be more concerned with silencing them and letting predators roam the corridors of NBC News. Shame on Comcast. Directors, do your work and allow the truth to reveal itself. "

Vester published an announcement in the New York Times' Thursday edition, calling on Comcast's board of directors to put an end to non-disclosure agreements and forced arbitration in cases of harassment. sexual, as reported by Variety.

Vester said Wednesday night at "Tucker Carlson Tonight" that NBC's response was neither thorough nor honest. "The truth was not there," she told Tucker Carlson, noting that NBC management gave more importance to financial results than to the women who work there.

Vester also alleged that she was aware of two victims of misconduct in the 1980s by NBC News President Andy Lack. She wondered if this bomb was the reason behind the NBC smoke screen.

Vester told Carlson that the problem with NBC had to be resolved at the top, by the Comcast board, owner of NBCUniversal. "They are directors of a publicly traded company. They are accountable to shareholders and the public, "she said. "It's a broadcaster regulated by the FCC. So these board members can not bury their heads in the sand. They are real women whose lives, careers and reputations are destroyed. They can not ignore them. "

"How is this a family business?", She added, questioning Comcast's ethics and morals.

Vester said in April that NBC presenter Tom Brokaw had made unwanted advances to him twice in the 1990s, including forcing a 20-year-old kiss on Vester.

Brokaw denied the allegations and asked many female colleagues to confirm his character.