• by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, November 21, 2017

The fallout of the media industry’s continuing sexual harassment meltdown has drifted over to the nation’s leading newspaper, with Monday’s announcement that The New York Times has suspended ace Washington reporter Glenn Thrush, a fixture of awkward political press conferences, over allegations of sexual misconduct brought by multiple women.

The suspension was prompted by a report in Vox in which multiple women alleged sexual misconduct against Thrush, who joined the NYT from Politico in January, ranging “from unwanted groping and kissing… to hazy sexual encounters that played out under the influence of alcohol.”

According to the women interviewed by Vox, the misconduct tended to follow a pattern, with Thrush, 50, using his position and reputation to form ostensibly mentoring relationships with younger female reporters, typically in their early 20s, whom he then sexually harassed.

The women usually remained silent because they were afraid of alienating Thrush, a powerful figure.

In response to the charges, Thrush emailed Vox a statement: “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.”

The NYT stated: “The behavior attributed to Glenn in this Vox story is very concerning and not in keeping with the standards and values of The New York Times. We intend to fully investigate and while we do, Glenn will be suspended.” According to a report in the NYT, the newspaper opened an investigation last week after becoming aware of the accusations contained in the impending Vox exclusive.

A number of editorial heavyweights have been caught in sexual-harassment revelations. Vox Media dismissed editorial director Lockhart Steele over allegations of sexual misconduct, which Steele admitted were true, according to Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff.

Leon Wieseltier, the formidable former literary editor of The New Republic, found support for his new magazine Idea pulled by Laurene Powell Jobs’ Emerson Collective, after a number of women, including former New Republic colleagues, came forward with claims of unwanted sexual contact and advances over the years.