Leak of 59pg Draft Report of Les Moonves/CBS Workplace Culture by Debevoise & Plimpton/Covington & Burling

1. Midtown’s Moonves
Madness
A Morass of Transparency in The Age of
Transparency

2. The Players
Rachel Abrams: New York Times reporter
Nancy Kestenbaum: Covington & Burling. Co-led Moonves/Workplace Culture
Investigation for CBS with Debevoise & Plimpton’s Mary Jo White
Shari Redstone: (w/atty Robert Klieger) Chair of ViacomCBS. Klieger on CBS
“Special Committee” for Investigation with Bruce Gordon & Linda Griego
Susan Zirinsky: (aka “Z”) Pres. of CBS News
Norah O’Donnell: CBS Evening News Anchor

3. The Players (continued)
Gayle King: CBS This Morning anchor
Les Moonves: former CEO of CBS
Jeff Fager: former head of CBS News & Exec. Prod. of 60 Minutes
VICTIMS: Employees of CBS, victims of Sexual Harassment & Toxic Culture
“X”: Unknown Leaker of the Debevoise/Covington Investigation 59pg Draft Report

4. Preface
Debevoise & Plimpton/Covington & Burling were hired by CBS Corp. to Investigate
(former) CEO Les Moonves & CBS Workplace Culture
A 59pg Draft Report was prepared for the CBS Board and was LEAKED to The
New York Times & included a Ton of names of CONFIDENTIAL witnesses
Several people were to Benefit from this report being Leaked, Foremost Shari
Redstone who sought to Merge (her companies) Viacom & CBS. Others were CBS
News’ Susan Zirinsky, Norah O’Donnell & Gayle King, who all saw their Lives &
Careers Boosted from the Leak.
Unfortunately, the Leak was all about The Players NOT The Victims so in that
respect - it would be of important interest to know Who Leaked the report & WHY

5. OFF Broadway: 6 key locations in 16 blocks
41st Street: NY Times (lower floors)
41st Street: Covington & Burling (same building, upper floors of NY Times bldg)
44th Street: Viacom Hdqtrs. (now ViacomCBS Hdqtrs.)
52nd Street: Blackrock (CBS Hdqtrs.)
56th Street: Debevoise & Plimpton
57th Street: CBS Broadcast Center

6. Who Benefitted?
Rachel Abrams: Book Deal on Les Moonves Investigation
Nancy Kestenbaum: $$$ for Investigation that included 350-400 Witnesses
Mary Jo White: $$$ for the Investigation
Shari Redstone: Her WISH for Viacom & CBS Merger was fulfilled
Susan Zirinsky: Becomes President of CBS News
Norah O’Donnell: Becomes CBS Evening News anchor, Moves to Wash D.C.
Gayle King: Becomes Main anchor of CBS This Morning, Huge $$$ Raise

7. Who Lost
Les Moonves: Resigns/fired
Jeff Fager: Fired
CBS VICTIMS: Pawns used to oust Moonves. NO Resolution OR Closure from CBS
CBS Employees: Massive Layoffs After the Viacom/CBS Merger

8. Summary
Mary Jo White of Debevoise & Plimpton REMOVED Responsibility of the Leak
from CBS. White had previously been under scrutiny the year before in a similar
Leak (University of Rochester) so it’s unlikely Debevoise was involved in the Leak
Covington & Burling would be likely to suspect in the leak, being that Mary Jo
White would be highly unlikely to suffer PR Damage again. So if Whit says CBS
wasn’t responsible - it would seem Kestenbaum’s Covington Team would be the
only other player involved in the leak
Even though NY Times & Covington are in the same building - it would seem the
Leak had to be approved by CBS to oust Moonves - since the Leak only served
to benefit someone on the Board and certainly didn’t serve the Victims

9. The Leak Trail
Most likely went from
Covington
To member of CBS “Special Committee” (for approval to leak to NY Times)
To CBS News Player/s
To Rachel Abrams at NY Times
*Being that Rachel Abrams spoke ONLY to CBS (apparently) after the Leak - it
seems the Controlled Interviews (with Limited Q&A) were part of a condition of the
leak

10. Result
ViacomCBS Merger:
Massive Debt existing at Viacom, The Viac Stock Price PLUMMETS immediately
Seems CBS was Used to Bail Out Viacom Debt by putting CBS Blackrock, The
Broadcast Center & Simon & Schuster up For Sale
CBS News audience shrinks noticeably, falls to last place in Network News
*No resolution for CBS Victims

11. Victims
The VICTIMS of CBS were Used as Pawns and Re-Victimized & Forgotten

12. Recommendations
Shari Redstone: Leave ViacomCBS, Sell ALL Shares
Susan Zirinsky: Step Down as CBS President, Leave Company
Norah O’Donnell: Leave CBS
Gayle King: Leave CBS
Rachel Abrams: Don’t Publish Moonves Book, Report the Story in NY Times as it
should be. Hand Leaked 59pg Report over to Authorities
ViacomCBS: Reparations for VICTIMS