A CBS News reporter was responsible for revealing the text messages from former 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager that may have led to his recent termination. 

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Fager was accused of inappropriately touching and groping women at CBS social events but these accusations weren't what led to his firing, Fager believes. He claims text messages he sent to a CBS reporter were behind the termination. 

Jericka Duncan revealed she was the journalist Fager mentioned during Wednesday's telecast of CBS Evening News. She attempted to reach out to get his side of the story regarding the sexual misconduct allegations raised in a series of articles from the New Yorker, reports the Washington Post. 

When Duncan attempted to reach out to him, she said he responded with a text message threatening to jeapordize her career if she proceeded to report on the accusations. 

"If you repeat these false accusations without any of your own reporting to back them up, you will be responsible for harming me," he texted. "Be careful. There are people who lost their jobs trying to harm me and if you pass on these damaging claims without your own reporting to back them up that will become a serious problem."

Fager released a statement claiming his treatment of Duncan was common. He believes his harsh request for fairness rattled network execs. And since the report from the New Yorker, Fager has said there was no legitimacy to the accusations.

“[CBS] terminated my contract early because I sent a text message to one of our own CBS reporters demanding that she be fair in covering the story," the statement read. "My language was harsh and, despite the fact that journalists receive harsh demands for fairness all the time, CBS did not like it. One such note should not result in termination after 36 years, but it did.”

The former producer was relieved of his duties Wednesday. CBS News released a statement vaguely explaining why they parted ways with him after decades with 60 Minutes. 

“This action today is not directly related to the allegations surfaced in press reports, which continue to be investigated independently,” CBS News President David Rhodes said in a memo. “However, he violated company policy and it is our commitment to uphold those policies at every level.”

Meanwhile, Duncan has made the media rounds discussing the text and sharing why she decided to release the text.  


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CBSJeff FagerJericka Duncansexual misconduct