Sex, Lies And Resignations: A Scorecard Of Sex Allegations

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK — The unprecedented flood of sexual harassment claims in recent weeks has reached the highest levels of media, politics and entertainment. The allegations have dethroned premier newsmen such as Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose, canceled the release of a movie, and pushed leading businessmen to step down from their companies.

Three members of congress — including a Republican social conservative warrior and the longest serving member of the House — have resigned or plan to resign after sex misconduct claims.

The sheer number of people involved, at last, requires something resembling a scorecard to keep track of it all.

Here is a rundown of 10 of the high-profile men accused of sexual misconduct, and how the allegations have affected their careers.

I.
Accused:
President Donald Trump

Accusers:
At least 16 women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct, most of them having come forward during the 2016 presidential campaign. The allegations range from unwanted kissing to groping to walking in on “Miss Teen USA” contestants as they dressed for the competition.

Response:
Trump first fervently denied the allegations during the 2016 campaign, but issued an apology after the Washington Post published an audio recording of him bragging about grabbing women by their private parts. Trump dismissed the recording as “locker-room talk.” He reportedly has since questioned the authenticity of the tape despite his earlier apology.

Current Status:
Despite the claims and the recording, Trump was elected president of the United States in November, 2016.

II.
Accused:
“Today” show host Matt Lauer

Accusers:
An NBC employee filed a complaint with the company Nov. 27, alleging sexual misconduct by Lauer. It was the first complaint filed with the company against Lauer during his 20-year stint as host of “Today,” the company said. But both The New York Times and Variety published reports days later, detailing several other sexual assault allegations. The Times reported one staffer who was allegedly sexually assaulted by Lauer in his office passed out during the ordeal and had to be taken to a nurse afterward.

Response:
Lauer issued an apology on Nov. 30, writing: "There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry. As I am writing this I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC."

Current Status:
NBC News Chairman Andy Luck fired Lauer from the network on Nov. 29, writing in a statement that Lauer’s conduct, "represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company's standards. As a result, we've decided to terminate his employment.”

III.
Accused:
CBS newsman Charlie Rose

Accusers:
Eight women accused Rose of sexual misconduct in a Washington Post report published on Nov. 20. Women who worked with Rose and others who aspired to work with him claimed he groped them and walked in front of them naked.

Response:
Rose wrote in a statement after the allegations: "It is essential that these women know I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I am greatly embarrassed. I have behaved insensitively at times, and I accept responsibility for that, though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate. I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I now realize I was mistaken."

Current Status:
CBS immediately fired Rose after the allegations were made public. PBS and Bloomberg also dropped Rose from shows that featured him.

IV.
Accused:
Sen. Al Franken, D-MN

Accusers:
Six women have accused Franken of inappropriate touching and unwanted kissing. His first accuser, radio host Leeann Tweeden, 44, said Franken grabbed her breasts while she was sleeping and forcibly kissed her while they were on a USO tour in the Middle East.

Response:
Franken said in a statement from the Senate floor on Thursday, Dec. 8 that he plans to resign his Senate seat in the coming weeks. In his parting statement, the avowed Democrat still took a shot at President Donald Trump, saying: "There is some irony that I am leaving while a man who bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office, and a man who preyed on young girls runs for Senate with the full support of his party."

Current Status:
When Franken officially resigns, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton will appoint a temporary replacement until a special election is held in 2018.

V.
Accused:
Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein

Accusers:
More than 75 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct. Their claims range from unwanted sexual text messages to groping to rape. Celebrities including Paz de la Huerta, Asia Argento, Lysette Anthony, Lucia Evans and Rose McGowan have all accused Weinstein of forcing them into unwanted sex.

Response:
In a statement to The New York Times, Weinstein said: “I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it.” But, Weinstein’s lawyer has repeatedly said that he denies any unwanted sexual contact.

Current Status:
The NYPD has said they are building a rape case against Weinstein after they interviewed de la Huerta, who has accused Weinstein of raping her on two occasions. No criminal charges have been filed against Weinstein. He was also forced out of the film company he founded that bears his name. In a statement, the company said: "In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company — Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar — have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately."

VI.
Accused:
Former radio host Garrison Keillor

Accusers:
A woman who worked with Keillor alleged he touched her back underneath the top she was wearing, Keillor told The Associated Press.

Response:
In a statement, Keillor explained: "I meant to pat her back after she told me about her unhappiness and her shirt was open and my hand went up it about six inches. She recoiled. I apologized. I sent her an email of apology later and she replied that she had forgiven me and not to think about it. We were friends. We continued to be friendly right up until her lawyer called."

Current Status:
Keillor was fired as a producer of the radio show "The Writer's Almanac," which Minnesota Public Radio said it will no longer distribute or broadcast. MPR also said it will no longer replay previous broadcasts of "The Best of A Prairie Home Companion," hosted by Keillor, and will change the name of new episodes of "A Prairie Home Companion" under host Chris Thile.

VII.
Accused:
Music mogul Russell Simmons

Accusers:
More than 10 women have accused Simmons of sexual misconduct, including at least four who say they were raped by the former record company owner.

Response:
After writer Jenny Lumet wrote a detailed account of an alleged assault by Simmons in The Hollywood Reporter, Simmons offered an apology, writing: "I have been informed with great anguish of Jenny Lumet's recollection about our night together in 1991. I know Jenny and her family and have seen her several times over the years since the evening she described. While her memory of that evening is very different from mine, it is now clear to me that her feelings of fear and intimidation are real."

Simmons has denied wrongdoing in other allegations that have been made against him.

Current Status:
Simmons announced Nov. 30 that he would be stepping down from the businesses that he founded in wake of the allegations. On Dec. 14, The Los Angeles Times reported that the NYPD had opened an investigation into rape claims made against Simmons.

VIII.
Accused:
Rep. John Conyers, D-MI

Accusers:
BuzzFeed reported that Conyers settled a lawsuit and paid $27,000 to a former staffer who alleged she was fired after rejecting his sexual advances. Another staffer, Deanna Maher, told The Associated Press about several inappropriate encounters with Conyers, including a claim that he groped her as they drove together in Michigan.

Response:
Conyers, who is 88-years-old and was the longest serving member of the House of Representatives, resigned from Congress on Dec. 5. "My legacy can't be compromised or diminished in any way by what we're going through now," Conyers said on a Detroit talk radio. "This, too, shall pass. My legacy will continue through my children."

Current Status:
Conyers' seat will sit vacant until the Michigan governor calls a special election to fill it. Conyers has endorsed his son, John Conyers III, to succeed him.

IX.
Accused:

Former Alabama Senate Candidate Roy Moore

Accusers:
Four women who were all under the age of 18 at the time have accused Moore of sexual misconduct. The Washington Post first reported the story, which included Leigh Corfman alleging that Moore had fondled her and kissed her in 1979, when she was 14 and he was 32.

Response:
Moore has denied all of the allegations, claiming they are false and coming to light now because he is running for national office. Moore has been backed by various far-right operatives including Steve Bannon and the James O’Keefe, founder of the site Project Veritas, and by President Trump.

Current Status
Moore refused to drop out of the Senate race and was defeated by Democratic rival Doug Jones in the election.

X.
Accused:
Comedian Louis C.K

Accusers:
Five women accused C.K. of sexual misconduct in a New York Times report published Nov. 9. Two the accusers were fellow comedians who told the newspaper that C.K. invited them to a hotel room in 2002 and began to masturbate in front of them. Another accuser said she could hear him masturbating while they spoke on the phone in 2003.

Response:
C.K. admitted to the allegations on Nov. 10 and apologized, writing in a statement: “These stories are true. At the time, I said to myself that what I did was okay because I never showed a woman my d--- without asking first. But what I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your d--- isn’t a question. It’s a predicament for them.”

Current Status:
In response, FX Networks and FX Productions fired C.K., ending his production deal with the network and his executive producer role on several of their shows. C.K.’s movie “I Love You Daddy” was also pulled from theaters days before it was scheduled to be released.

XI.
Accused:
New York Metropolitan Opera conductor James Levine

Accusers:
The New York Post reported that Levine allegedly molested an Illinois teenager decades ago while he was guest conductor at the Ravinia Music Festival. The alleged victim reported Levine to the Lake Forest police department in 2016. The New York Times also published a story on Sunday that included accusations from two other men who claimed the conductor molested them years ago when they were teenagers.

Response:
Levine has not publicly addressed the accusations, but Met officials said he has denied wrongdoing, The Associated Press reported. On Saturday, Levine conducted a performance of Verdi's "Requiem" at the Met.

Current Status:
Peter Gelb, the general manager of the Met, told the New York Times in an interview that they suspended Levine on Sunday. “While we await the results of the investigation, based on these news reports the Met has made the decision to act now,” Gelb told the newspaper. “This is a tragedy for anyone whose life has been affected.”

XII.
Accused
Rep. Trent Franks, R-AZ

Accusers:
Franks, an eight-term congressman and member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, revealed that he asked two female staffers to be surrogate mothers for him and his wife. “Due to my familiarity and experience with the process of surrogacy, I clearly became insensitive as to how the discussion of such an intensely personal topic might affect others,” Franks said.

Response:
Franks announced on Dec. 7 that he would resign his seat in coming weeks after the House Ethics Committee released a statement that it would open an investigation into the matter. A day later, Franks said he would resign his seat immediately, instead of waiting months.

Current Status:
Under Arizona law, Franks' seat will remain vacant after he resign until the governor calls a special election.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster; Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File; Charles Sykes/Invision/AP; AP Photo/Evan Vucci