60 Minutes producer was fired for threatening reporter’s job if she reported new sex misconduct claims against him – Jeff Fager told Jericka Duncan ‘you will be held responsible for harming me’
CBS reporter Jericka Duncan went on air to reveal Jeff Fager was fired for threatening her job if she reported new sex misconduct claims against him, on Wednesday
The 60 Minutes producer allegedly messaged Duncan ‘If you repeat these false accusations without any of your own reporting to back them up, you will be held responsible for harming me,’ in a text
The threats came shortly after Duncan sought his rebuttal to a string of sexual misconduct allegations published by NY Times
‘Be careful. There are people who lost their jobs trying to harm me’ Fager further threatened her
Fager who is denying the sexual misconduct allegations claims he was fired solely because he menaced Duncan
The message was ‘harshly worded’ and CBS ‘didn’t like it,’ he said
‘I am that reporter.’ – CBS reporter Jericka Duncan [photo] announced she is the reporter who was threatened by 60 Minutes producer Jeff Fager, as she prepared to file stories of sexual misconduct leveled against him
Jeff Fager sent a text message to CBS reporter Jericka Duncan, warning her about the coverage of the sexual misconduct allegations against him, just three days before he was terminated.
Duncan contacted the CBS heavy hitter Fager, the longtime producer of the network’s iconic 60 Minutes show, seeking his comment on the new allegations of sexual harassment made about him in a New Yorker story, just as the sex scandal involving company CEO Les Moonves, unfolded.
In the texts, which were sent after Duncan went for comment, Fager wrote: ‘If you repeat these false accusations without any of your own reporting to back them up, you will be held responsible for harming me.’
That was followed up with a text that stated: ‘Be careful. There are people who lost their jobs trying to harm me, and if you pass on these damaging claims without your own reporting to back them up, that will become a serious problem.’
Jericka Duncan is seen reporting on the menacing messages she received from Fager on Wednesday night
Just hours after Fager was fired on Wednesday, a composed Jericka Duncan spoke on CBS Evening News about the text messages and then announced: ‘I am that reporter.’
Duncan, who has been tasked with reporting on both Fager and Moonves for CBS News these past few days, then went one step further and revealed the exchange that led to Fager’s exit.
Jeff Fager sent a text message to CBS reporter Jericka Duncan warning her about the coverage of the sexual misconduct allegations against him, just three days before he was terminated.
God complex: ‘If you repeat these false accusations without any of your own reporting to back them up, you will be held responsible for harming me,’ wrote Jeff Fager in a text. The veteran producer was fired by CBS Wednesday in the wake of his menacing Duncan
Fager blames Duncan [photo], for his current woes. He claims CBS ‘terminated my contract early because I sent a text message to one of our own CBS reporters [Jericka Duncan], demanding that she be fair in covering the story’
‘The company’s decision had nothing to do with the false allegations printed in The New Yorker,’ said Fager.
‘Instead, they terminated my contract early because I sent a text message to one of our own CBS reporters demanding that she be fair in covering the story. My language was harsh and, despite the fact that journalists receive harsh demands for fairness all the time, CBS did not like it.’
These are the menacing messages Fager sent to Duncan after she asked him for comment about sexual misconduct allegations against him in a New Yorker article. They led to his ouster
He added: ‘One such note should not result in termination after 36 years, but it did.’
CBS News president David Rhodes confirmed part of this as well in his memo, writing: ‘This action today is not directly related to the allegations surfaced in press reports, which continue to be investigated independently.’
It was then noted: ‘However, he violated company policy and it is our commitment to uphold those policies at every level.’
Nineteen women have come forward to detail what they claim was a hostile environment at 60 Minutes where harassment was condoned, with some detailing specific incidents involving Fager.
Jericka Duncan signalled she was ready to ‘spill’ on Fager when she teased on her segment on Wednesday’s CBS Evening News, just hours before the former 60 Minutes producer was let go
Les Moonves [L-R], resigned as CEO of CBS Sept 9 for a string of sexual misconduct allegations.
‘Jeff Fager is leaving the company effective immediately,’ read a memo sent to CBS staff on Wednesday afternoon.
‘Bill Owens will manage the 60 Minutes team as Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews and I begin the search for a new executive producer of the program.’
That memo went on to state: ’60 Minutes is the most significant news broadcast on television. We are fortunate to have incredibly talented journalists in place whom we know will continue to deliver our defining investigative work.
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