An ABC News producer has filed a lawsuit against former “Good Morning America” producer Michael Corn. The lawsuit filed with the New York Supreme Court alleges Corn sexually assaulted “GMA” producer Kirstyn Crawford during a business trip to Los Angeles in 2015.
Fox News reports:
“While in an Uber to their hotel, Corn pulled Crawford’s head into his chest and began kissing her and rubbing her legs,” the lawsuit alleges. “Each time Crawford tried to pull away, Corn pulled her right back. Later that evening, after Crawford believed she had escaped to her hotel room, Corn came to Crawford’s room for the express purpose of attempting to have sex with her.”
The lawsuit also claimed Corn – who abruptly left ABC in April – sexually assaulted another ABC employee that reported to him, Jill McClain, who is not listed as a plaintiff. It alleges that Corm “assaulted McClain on two separate occasions—once on a redeye flight from Los Angeles to New York, and once in London—both times while traveling with McClain” for business.
“Corn groped McClain’s vagina over her jeans on an airplane, pinned her down on a hotel bed, pulled down the top of her jumpsuit, and fondled her bare breasts,” the lawsuit claims. “Both Plaintiff and McClain were traumatized and rendered incapable of reporting the incidents for fear of losing their jobs, since Corn was their supervisor.”
Corn denied all wrongdoing in a statement to the Wall Street Journal. “He said he would be defending himself ‘vigorously,’” the WSJ reported.
The lawsuit also alleges Corn fostered a toxic work environment. Crawford currently works as a producer for George Stephanapolous and the suit claims Crawford informed Stephanopoulos of Corn’s alleged assault, but no action was taken.