Story-Killing Lawyer Intimidated Washington Post

According to its website, Alexandria, Va. – based Clare Locke is devoted to protecting at-risk reputations. Name partner Libby Locke has been particularly successful. She specializes in a form of prior censorship – killing stories that portray her clients negatively before they ever see the light of day. Her weapon is a letter threatening litigation, and it apparently worked in the case of an investigative report the Washington Post was set to publish concerning her client, CBS Executive Producer Jeff Fager. The story was about what the network’s managers knew of former anchor Charlie Rose’s alleged sexual misconduct, and when they knew it. The Post did publish a report that Rose’s behavior was widespread, and that three managers were aware of it. Fager, who placed Rose on 60 Minutes, and gave him the CBS morning show, was mentioned only peripherally. He told reporters he hadn’t learned of the allegations against Rose until they were made public. A follow-up story was set to take exception to that claim, but Locke’s threats convinced the newspaper to leave Fager out of the reporting. Former Today show host Matt Lauer and New York Times reporter Glenn Thrush, are also said to be Locke’s clients. Both were accused of sexually harassing women.