Keep in mind, these are only allegations. If CBS doesn’t settle, they will be aired in court, and we will know more. If CBS does settle, we can infer that there is information so damaging, or potential legal costs so daunting, that the network is willing to pay up. Either way, this is disturbing. Rich Calder and Laura Italiano report in the New York Post:

A handsome former video producer at CBS is suing for sexual harassment, saying he was repeatedly drunkenly groped and kissed by powerful men at the network — including the director for the “CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley.”

“I have symptoms of PTSD from this,” said Kenneth Lombardi, who quit his job in November, to The Post on Thursday, comparing CBS to “the Catholic Church or Penn State” for allegedly sweeping his complaints under a carpet. (snip)

Last March, Lombardi prepared a 10-minute video reel with excerpts of his best celebrity interviews, and asked the twice-his-age Colley for feedback. Colley suggested they meet at a gay bar, Hardware, in Hell’s Kitchen, to discuss.

There, a drunken Colley made it clear he had actually little interest in the younger man’s reel, the suit says. The conversation quickly turned X-rated. Grilled by Colley about his orientation, Lombardi reluctantly revealed he was bisexual.

“Colley told [Lombardi] that he did not really believe being ‘bisexual’ was real and told Plaintiff that he was actually completely gay,” the suit says.

The evening devolved from there, with Colley allegedly urging drinks on the younger man while rubbing his thigh, texting him porn site links and asking what he thought about when he watched porn videos, the suit says.

“He was sending me porn on my phone while he was talking about my career,” Lombardi said in a phone interview.

I wonder: Does CBS have a news operation that “looks [and behaves] like America”?