Entertainment

NBC News fires political journalist Mark Halperin amid sexual harassment allegations

NBC News says it has terminated its contract with Mark Halperin, the political journalist who was accused of sexual harassment by several women when he worked at ABC News more than a decade ago.

A book deal and accompanying HBO series by author were also cancelled

NBC news has ended its contract with political journalist Mark Halperin, who faces sexual harassment accusations from when he worked at ABC News. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/The Associated Press)

NBC News says it has terminated its contract with Mark Halperin, the political journalist who was accused of sexual harassment by several women when he worked at ABC News more than a decade ago.

Since the accusations came to light last week, publisher Penguin Press cancelled a planned book by Halperin and John Heilemann about the 2016 election and HBO pulled the plug on a miniseries that would have been based on the book. Showtime also said Halperin would not be brought back with co-hosts Heilemann and Mark McKinnon should the political series The Circus be renewed.

At NBC News, Halperin was a contributor who was most visible as a regular panelist on MSNBC's Morning Joe.

The network, which had initially suspended Halperin last week, confirmed the firing on Monday.