Uber-Lib David Corn Investigated for Inappropriate Workplace Behavior … Accused of making “rape jokes,” “regularly gave unwelcome shoulder rubs and engaged in uninvited touching of their legs, arms, backs, and waists,” and “made inappropriate comments about women’s sexuality and anatomy.”
Posted in: Double Standard,Liberal Intolerance,Liberals,Media,Media Bias,Progressives,sexual abuse,Sexual Harassment,Socialist
This time a far-Lefty is accused of inappropriate behavior …
The Politico reports that Mother Jones magazine’s editor and chief executive investigated Washington bureau chief David Corn for inappropriate workplace behavior three years ago. They warned him about touching female staffers and insensitive descriptions of sexual violence, and they would now probe the allegations further due to two emails written by former staffers in 2014 and 2015. Had these same kind of emails surfaced in today’s environment or accusations were made now, Corn would probably find himself without a job in the light of what has happened recently. Corn was accused of making “rape jokes,” “regularly gave (several women) unwelcome shoulder rubs and engaged in uninvited touching of their legs, arms, backs, and waists,” and “made inappropriate comments about women’s sexuality and anatomy.”
Mother Jones magazine’s editor and chief executive acknowledged on Thursday that they investigated Washington bureau chief David Corn for inappropriate workplace behavior three years ago, warning him about touching female staffers and insensitive descriptions of sexual violence, and would now probe the allegations further in light of two emails written by former staffers in 2014 and 2015 and obtained by POLITICO.
One of the emails, written in 2015 by a former staffer outlining concerns she had heard from other women in the Washington office, said Corn, now 58, made “rape jokes,” “regularly gave [several women] unwelcome shoulder rubs and engaged in uninvited touching of their legs, arms, backs, and waists,” and “made inappropriate comments about women’s sexuality and anatomy.” The other email, from 2014, was by a former female staffer who claimed that Corn “came up behind me and put his hands and arms around my body in a way that felt sexual and domineering.”
CEO Monika Bauerlein and editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery said they had not seen these emails, which were shared several years ago between colleagues and union representatives. But the magazine’s leaders acknowledged dealing with allegations of inappropriate touching and comments around the time the emails were written, and said they believe Corn has stopped those behaviors.
Corn, in a statement to POLITICO, said that neither his comments nor his touching of colleagues was in any way sexual.
Corn’s excuse is that he is just an exuberant person and it was never his intent to be perceived as “sexual” or “domineering.” Of course we know from other sexual harassment cases, it is not a matter of what the perpetrator intended, it is how the victim perceived the advances. Hmm, making rape jokes, rubbing woman’s shoulders and engaging in uninvited touching of their legs, arms, backs, and waists, and making inappropriate comments about women’s sexuality and anatomy isn’t sexual? Really?
“I am an exuberant person and have been known to pat male and female colleagues on the shoulder or slap them on the back, but always in a collegial or celebratory way,” he said. “I have never touched any work colleague in a sexual manner. Once concerns were raised about this type of contact, I have been mindful to avoid it to prevent any misperception. If anyone ever perceived any of this as ‘sexual’ or ‘domineering,’ I am sorry—that was never my intent.”
So what will happen to David Corn? Others have found themselves relived of their jobs for similar and worse conduct. Does anyone think this is really all just in the past, or has the same behavior continued over time? We shall see if more women come forward.
The accusations against Corn have surfaced amid a wave of sexual harassment allegations involving high-profile men in the news business, including star political journalist Mark Halperin, now-former top NPR editor Michael Oreskes, former New Republic literary editor Leon Wieseltier and New Republic publisher Hamilton Fish. Wieseltier, Fish and Corn were recently accused of harassment on “Shitty Media Men,” an anonymously written list featuring women’s claims against more than 70 men that’s been circulating among journalists.
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