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CBS hires two law firms to investigate allegations against Moonves

Les Moonves attends the 2017 CBS Upfront at The Plaza Hotel. Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

CBS' Board of Directors announced Wednesday evening they unanimously approved to assign two law firms to carry out investigations into misconduct by CEO and Chairman Les Moonves — Covington & Burling and Debevoise & Plimpton.

Why it matters: The Board has not moved quickly to suspend Moonves, who is expected to speak the broadcaster's third quarter earnings call Thursday, per Fox Business. It wants to ensure investors that its taking the allegations into Moonves' behavior seriously.

The details: Moonves will be entirely recused from the investigation, which will also look into CBS News and cultural issues at all levels of CBS.

  • Leading the investigation will be Nancy Kestenbaum for Covington & Burling and Mary Jo White for Debevoise & Plimpton.
  • CBS has formed a special committee of Board members to help facilitate the investigation, including Bruce S. Gordon, Linda Griego and Robert N. Klieger. serve as Lead Independent Director of the Board of Directors.

Go deeper: Les Moonves remains... for now

Go deeper

Jonathan Swan, Zachary Basu
17 mins ago - Politics & Policy
Off the Rails

Episode 2: Barbarians at the Oval

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

Beginning on election night 2020 and continuing through his final days in office, Donald Trump unraveled and dragged America with him, to the point that his followers sacked the U.S. Capitol with two weeks left in his term. This Axios series takes you inside the collapse of a president.

Episode 2: Trump stops buying what his professional staff are telling him, and increasingly turns to radical voices telling him what he wants to hear.

President Trump plunked down in an armchair in the White House residence, still dressed from his golf game — navy fleece, black pants, white MAGA cap. It was Saturday, Nov. 7. The networks had just called the election for Joe Biden.

Go deeper (5 min. read)Arrow
Sara Fischer, Kyle Daly
1 hour ago - Technology

Fringe right plots new attacks out of sight

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Domestic extremists are using obscure and private corners of the internet to plot new attacks ahead of Inauguration Day. Their plans are also hidden in plain sight, buried in podcasts and online video platforms.

Why it matters: Because law enforcement was caught flat-footed during last week's Capitol siege, researchers and intelligence agencies are paying more attention to online threats that could turn into real-world violence.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Sara Fischer, Margaret Harding McGill
2 hours ago - Technology

Kids’ screen time up 50% during pandemic

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

When the coronavirus lockdowns started in March, kidstech firm SuperAwesome found that screen time was up 50%. Nearly a year later, that percentage hasn't budged, according to new figures from the firm.

Why it matters: For most parents, pre-pandemic expectations around screen time are no longer realistic. The concern now has shifted from the number of hours in front of screens to the quality of screen time.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow