White House reporter Glenn Thrush suspended for alleged sexual misconduct

Washington, Nov 21 (IANS) The New York Times has suspended Glenn Thrush, one of its most prominent reporters covering the White House, over allegations of sexual misconduct involving younger, female journalists, a media report said.

The Times said in a statement that the allegations against Thrush, aged 50, are "very concerning and not in keeping with the standards and values of The New York Times", Xinhua news agency reported.

"We intend to fully investigate and while we do, Glenn will be suspended," said the statement.

"We support his decision to enter a substance abuse program. In the meantime, we will not be commenting further."

The US policy and politics website Vox.com on Monday first reported that Thrush, 50, has "a history of bad judgment around young women journalists".

The story included allegations from three anonymous women, as well as the article's author Laura McGann, who together accused Thrush of "a range of similar experiences" that included unwanted groping and kissing and "hazy sexual encounters that played out under the influence of alcohol".

"I apologize to any woman who felt uncomfortable in my presence, and for any situation where I behaved inappropriately. Any behavior that makes a woman feel disrespected or uncomfortable is unacceptable, Thrush said in a statement on Monday.

"My recollection of my interactions with Laura differs greatly from hers -- the encounter was consensual, brief, and ended by me. She was an editor above me at the time and I did not disparage her to colleagues at POLITICO as she claims. The assertion that I would rate women based on their appearance is also false." he said in an email to CNN on Monday.