A lawyer for CNN refused to back down to Morgan Freeman’s lawyer’s demand that the network retract its story about sexual harassment allegations.
On Monday, CNN published an investigative article outlining patterns of sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace misconduct by Freeman, citing eight victims who came forward.
In response, Freeman’s lawyer, Robert Schwartz, demanded the network issue a retraction. In the letter, he tried to disprove the claims. (RELATED: Morgan Freeman’s Lawyers Demand Retraction Of CNN Sexual Assault Allegations Story)
“At a minimum, CNN immediately needs to issue a retraction and apologize to Mr. Freeman through the same channels, and with the same level of attention, that it used to unjustly attack him on May 24,” Schwartz wrote, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The letter CNN sent back, obtained by The Daily Caller, focused on “one of the most important social questions of our time: should women be forced to endure this type of treatment in exchange for the privilege of engaging in their chosen profession?”
“Under California law that means you must provide ‘written notice specifying the statements claimed to be libelous and demanding that those statements be correct,'” CNN’s lawyer said in the letter. “Your letter does not do that. Designed for press consumption, it is rife with empty speculation, overheated rhetoric, and in some instances plainly false assertions.”
The letter also pointed out that Freeman did “not challenge [the] reporting that he repeatedly tired to lift the skirt of a young production assistant” and that he didn’t challenge the claim that “he messaged a young intern without her consent.”
“Had you done [your research] you would have learned that your firm has been actively representing CNN and its affiliates in several intellectual property matters… And as you are undoubtedly aware, you personally have represented our sister division Warner Bros. in numerous cases,” the letter concluded.