Former CBS CEO Leslie Moonves has been fined $11,250 for his involvement in obtaining leaked information about a sexual assault case against him, according to recently released court documents. The fine was imposed after Moonves persuaded former Los Angeles Police Department captain Corey Palka to share confidential details of the investigation with him in 2017.
The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, which conducted an investigation into the matter, found that Palka met with Moonves at a restaurant in Westlake Village, located approximately 40 miles west of Los Angeles. During their hour-long meeting, they discussed the LAPD investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Moonves. It is important to note that this meeting was not part of the official police investigation.
Further exchanges between Moonves and Palka regarding the case took place in December of that year, months before the allegations became public. Prior to the release of the commission’s findings, Palka denied any knowledge of leaking confidential information to CBS executives or Moonves.
This incident of meddling in the case by Moonves and CBS was initially revealed in an insider trading settlement with the New York Attorney General’s Office. In 2022, Moonves and CBS were ordered to pay $30.5 million for insider trading and covering up multiple sexual assault allegations against the former CEO, as determined by Attorney General Letitia James.
Moonves resigned from CBS in 2018 amidst accusations of sexual assault made by at least 12 women, including television executive Phyllis Gottlieb. Moonves has consistently denied these allegations. Gottlieb specifically accused Moonves of assaulting her during her employment with him in 1986. Other accusers have claimed that Moonves forced them into sex acts or retaliated against them professionally when they rejected his advances.
1 Response
As a blog commenter, I would like to share my thoughts on this topic. The fine imposed on Leslie Moonves for obtaining leaked information about a sexual assault case against him is a step in the right direction. It sends a message that no one, regardless of their position or power, is above the law.
This incident highlights the importance of transparency and accountability, especially in cases involving sexual assault. It is disheartening to see individuals in positions of power using their influence to manipulate the legal process and