Former NBC News contributor Mark Halperin has reportedly signed a deal to publish a book.
The book deal comes about two years after Halperin was accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct in a series of allegations he did not deny.
Politico reported Sunday in Playbook that Halperin signed a deal with Regan Arts to publish a book called “How to Beat Trump: America’s Top Political Strategists on What it Will Take.” The publishers will make the official announcement Monday. {mosads}
More than 75 top Democratic strategists spoke with Halperin for the book, including Jill Alper, David Axelrod, Bob Bauer, Donna Brazile, James Carville, Tad Devine, Anita Dunn, Karen Dunn, Adrienne Elrod, Jennifer Granholm, Ben LaBolt, Jeff Link, Jim Margolis, Mike McCurry, Mark Mellman, Amanda Renteria, John Sasso, Kathleen Sebelius, Bob Shrum, Ginny Terzano and David Wilhelm, Politico reports.
At least a dozen women came forward with allegations that Halperin sexually harassed or assaulted them when he was the political director at ABC news.
Women said Halperin’s behavior included unwanted kissing and touching, pressing an erection against them and grabbing one woman’s breast.
Judith Regan will release a statement defending her decision on Monday along with the official announcement.
“I do not in any way, shape, or form condone any harm done by one human being to another. I have also lived long enough to believe in the power of forgiveness, second chances, and offering a human being a path to redemption. HOW TO BEAT TRUMP is an important, thoughtful book, and I hope everyone has a chance to read it,” Regan’s statement will read, according to Politico.
NBC and MSNBC terminated contracts with Halperin in October 2017 after the allegations were made.
In a statement at the time Halperin said he was “profoundly sorry for the pain and anguish I have caused by my past actions.”
“In recent days I have closely read the accounts of women with whom I worked at ABC News. I have not read these accounts looking for discrepancies or inconsistencies,” he said.
“Instead, in almost every case, I have recognized conduct for which I feel profound guilt and responsibility, some involving junior ABC News personnel and women just starting out in the news business.”
Eleanor McManus, one woman who alleges Halperin leaned in and tried to kiss her when she reached out for a professional meeting as a recent graduate, told The Daily Beast Halperin’s book deal comes before he has apologized to his victims.
“He leveraged his position as a prominent journalist to prey on women. He has yet to take responsibility for his actions by apologizing to his victims or demonstrating genuine contrition,” McManus, cofounder of Trident DMG, said in a statement to The Daily Beast. “Giving him a book once again puts him in a position of authority and that is a slap in the face to all the women that his has victimized.”