A major book publisher announced Thursday that it will not publish veteran journalist Mark Halperin’s upcoming book about the 2016 election after multiple women came forward with accusations of sexual harassment.
Penguin Press announced in a statement obtained by CNN that it will not publish Halperin’s yet-to-be-titled book over the accusations. Halperin co-authored the book with John Heilemann.
“In light of the recent news regarding Mark Halperin, the Penguin Press has decided to cancel our plans to publish a book he was co-authoring on the 2016 election,” the statement reads.
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The news comes just hours after HBO cancelled its own plans to adapt the book into a miniseries. HBO previously adapted Halperin and Heilemann’s last book, Game Change, into a movie.
Multiple women have accused Halperin of unwanted sexual advances and harassment stemming back to his time at ABC News.
A statement from NBC and MSNBC, where Halperin has worked as an analyst on “Morning Joe,” said that Halperin was leaving the show as a contributor while he faces the claims.
“Mark Halperin is leaving his role as a contributor until the questions around his past conduct are fully understood,” the statement read.
Halperin apologized for his conduct in a statement issued to CNN late Wednesday.
“During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me,” Halperin said. “I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain.”
“I will take a step pack from my day-to-day work while I properly address the situation,” he added.