The attorney for Matt Lauer’s accuser said NBC News has not done enough to protect the anonymity of his client.
“I can say that NBC has a duty to maintain confidentiality, that means to maintain secrecy over her name, and to hold to themselves the details of her story, and they have not done a good job of doing that.They know exactly what they’ve done, and they need to stop,” Ari Wilkenfeld said in an interview that aired Friday on NBC News.
Mr. Wilkenfeld has previously said that the network acted quickly in handling the complaint.
Mr. Lauer was terminated a few weeks ago for sexual misconduct that reportedly started at the Sochi Olympics. The network says it is the only instance of impropriety that’s been reported in the over 20 years that Mr. Lauer worked at NBC News.
Mr. Wilkenfeld did say that the intense curiosity to find out who she is and what exactly happened could have a negative impact on those who still may come forward.
“There’s a hunt underway to figure out who she is, and I think that’s going to have a chilling effect on other women who might want to come forward and tell their stories,” he said.
NBC News responded with a statement that it has maintained the accuser’s confidentiality and “will continue to do so.”
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