The New York Times is reporting that former Morgan Stanley executive and ex-congressman Harold E. Ford Jr. was not suddenly fired over sexual misconduct claims, with the true reasons for his ousting more complex and murky.
“The Morgan Stanley officials briefed on the process say that amid a national outcry over sexual harassment, the bank had little choice but to fire Mr. Ford after it learned of the allegation,” which occurred with a woman reporter, Kate Kelly and Andrew Ross Sorkin write.
But there are also swirling theories outlined by the Times that the 47-year-old’s professional demeanor — he was described as difficult to work with — as well as the way he handled his expense account were the true reasons he was pushed out, with the sexual misconduct allegations merely a catalyst for the move.
“After more than 20 years of building a reputation working hard in the public and private sectors, all it took was one false claim to cost me my job and the ability to walk my kids to school without getting accusatory stares on the street,” Ford reportedly told the Times.
“Morgan Stanley fired him, and defamed him, without ever figuring out what happened,” Beth Wilkinson, one of Ford’s lawyers, said.
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