New York Times reporter Glenn Thrush said in a statement: “I apologize to any woman who felt uncomfortable in my presence, and for any situation where I behaved inappropriately." | Kirk Irwin/Getty Images for SiriusXM New York Times suspends Glenn Thrush after allegations of sexual misconduct

The New York Times said on Monday it is suspending White House correspondent Glenn Thrush while it investigates allegations in a new report from Vox that he made unwanted sexual advances toward young women, including colleagues from his time working for POLITICO.

Three women, including the piece’s author, Laura McGann, a former editor at POLITICO, alleged forms of unwanted contact or kissing by Thrush, while a fourth described an encounter that she said was consensual but nonetheless left her feeling shaken because of Thrush’s powerful position at POLITICO at the time. The incidents, which occurred in the last five years, all involved women in their 20s, Vox reported.


Three of the incidents occurred while Thrush was a reporter at POLITICO; the fourth occurred last June, after a going-away party for a POLITICO staffer that Thrush attended, though he had started working at the New York Times earlier in the year.

Eileen Murphy, senior vice president of communications for the New York Times, said in a statement: "The alleged behavior 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. We support his decision to enter a substance abuse program. In the meantime, we will not be commenting further."

“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.

Thrush, who cut his teeth in the New York City tabloid newspaper world, has emerged, along with Times colleague Maggie Haberman, as one of the must-read reporters covering Donald Trump’s presidency. He and Haberman also recently signed a deal with Random House for a book on the Trump White House, which would presumably be filled with the type of West Wing intrigue and analysis that has stood out in the pages of the Times. As for the status of the book, a Random House spokesperson said: "This matter recently came to our attention and we are looking at it closely and seriously."

While Thrush got attention in September for taking a break from Twitter, where he has more than 350,000 followers, the Times reporter continued to have a platform beyond the paper as an MSNBC contributor. “We’re awaiting the outcome of the Times’ investigation,” a network spokesperson said Monday. “He currently has no scheduled appearances.”

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McGann described receiving unwanted advances from Thrush at a bar five years ago, when she said he put his hand on her thigh and started kissing her. She said the stories of the three other women fit a similar pattern:

“All of the women were in their 20s at the time. They were relatively early in their careers compared to Thrush, who was the kind of seasoned journalist who would be good to know. At an event with alcohol, he made advances. Afterward, they (as I did) thought it best to stay on good terms with Thrush, whatever their feelings,” McGann wrote.

McGann said there was no human resources office at the time, so she reported her concerns to a colleague and a senior editor. A spokesperson for POLITICO said that no formal complaint reached the general counsel’s desk and that both the colleague and senior editor in question left POLITICO years ago.

Thrush disputed McGann’s account, including her assertions that he spread unflattering rumors about it around the POLITICO newsroom. “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,” he said in his statement.

“I have never offered mentorship or reporting advice to anyone, man or woman, with an expectation of anything in return. To assert otherwise is false.”

In the incident in June, which followed a going-away party for a POLITICO reporter, a young woman journalist said Thrush attempted to take her hand and kiss her.

POLITICO editor Carrie Budoff Brown told Vox that she saw Thrush and the woman talking in the bar but did not have any cause for concern. “I was disappointed in Glenn but had no reason to think that anything would progress beyond the bar that night,” she said, according to Vox. “And I am saddened to learn in the course of your reporting that it did.”

“Great journalism and great business require a great workplace. My colleagues and I have worked hard to nurture a newsroom where people are supportive, good to each other, and where mutual respect is the way of life. We have zero tolerance for anything else,” she said.

In his statement, Thrush addressed the incident:

“The June incident was a life-changing event [for me]. The woman involved was upset by my actions and for that I am deeply sorry.

“Over the past several years, I have responded to a succession of personal and health crises by drinking heavily. During that period, I have done things that I am ashamed of, actions that have brought great hurt to my family and friends.

“I have not taken a drink since June 15, 2017, have resumed counseling and will soon begin out-patient treatment for alcoholism. I am working hard to repair the damage I have done.”

