Moonves still CEO as CBS seeks outside counsel on misconduct claims

The CBS Corporation’s board of directors is now seeking outside counsel to conduct an independent investigation into its CEO Leslie Moonves, after he was accused of sexual harassment.

CBS’ board of directors met this Monday to decide on the best way to react in response to sexual harassment claims made against its chief exec in the past week.

Six women, including Six Feet Under star Illeana Douglas, have claimed that Moonves forcibly kissed and touched them in the workplace and, in some cases, retaliated against them professionally when he was rejected, according to a report on The New Yorker.

The board has also postponed its annual shareholder meeting as a result, which had been set for August 10. This marks the second time a shareholder meeting has been postponed this year due to a legal dispute between CBS and its shareholder National Amusements.

CBS’ dispute with its shareholder has largely been down to a potential merger between CBS and Viacom, which Moonves has been vocally against.

Shares in CBS fell by 6% on the arrival of the misconduct claims on July 27, and have fallen another 5% as the CBS board gathered to make a decision.