Did a Now-Retired Captain in the LAPD Cover Up Former CBS Chief’s Sexual Assault?

Did a now-retired captain with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) criminally conspire with CBS executives to cover up a sexual assault allegation against former CBS president and CEO Les Moonves?

New York prosecutors in CBS and Moonves’ insider trading investigation say he did and filed proof with the court.

The LAPD accusations surfaced as part of a multi-million dollar settlement filed Wednesday against CBS and CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves for concealing sexual assault allegations, misleading investors about those allegations, and insider trading using foreknowledge that allegations would soon become public.

The New York settlement requires CBS and Moonves to pay $30.5 in restitution, most of which will go to CBS shareholders defrauded by the company’s deceit. Moonves is also now barred from accepting an executive or officer position at any public company working in New York for five years without written approval from the Office of the Attorney General.

In the settlement and discontinuance document, prosecutors alleged, and filed supporting records that documented, that a former Los Angeles Police Department captain conspired with CBS executives to help Moonves cover up a sexual assault allegation by illegally sharing confidential information about Moonves’ accuser and updates on the investigation with CBS.

On one night in November 2017, a woman came to an LAPD Hollywood Division station house and reported her alleged sexual misconduct by Moonves and retaliation against her that followed. She filed a form explicitly requesting that her report be kept confidential.

That same night, the unnamed LAPD police captain called Ian Metrose, a senior executive who handled talent relations, and left a voice mail:

“Somebody walked in the station about a couple hours ago and made allegations against your boss regarding a sexual assault,” the captain allegedly told Metrose in the voicemail. “It’s confidential, as you know, but call me, and I can give you some of the details and let you know what the allegation is before it goes to the media or gets out.”

The next day, the captain allegedly forward Metrose the unredacted confidential police report at his request, which was circulated between other executives and Moonves. The captain then continued to update Moonves and Metrose via text throughout the investigation, including texts where he shared plans to chastise the accuser for going to the press about her assault.

“After trying to bury the truth to protect their fortunes, today CBS and Leslie Moonves are paying millions of dollars for their wrongdoing,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement on Wednesday. “Today’s action should send a strong message to companies across New York that profiting off injustice will not be tolerated and those who violate the law will be held accountable.”

Later on Wednesday, the LAPD announced that it has launched an internal investigation into the retired commander and the allegations filed by the New York attorney general. The LAPD will also cooperate with New York and California Attorney General investigations into the alleged misconduct.

“What is most appalling is the alleged breach of trust of a victim of sexual assault, who is among the most vulnerable, by a member of the LAPD,” said LAPD Chief Michael Moore. “This erodes the public trust and is not reflective of our values as an organization.”