CNN Suspends Pro-Trump Commentator Paris Dennard Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

CNN suspended Paris Dennard, a pro-Trump commentator, less than two hours after a Washington Post report exposed his past alleged sexual misconduct that resulted in his firing from his previous job, Wednesday evening.

The report suggested that he was fired from a job at Arizona State University four years ago for making “sexually explicit comments and gestures toward women.”

“We are aware of reports of accusations against Paris Dennard. We are suspending Paris, effective immediately, while we look into the allegations,” a spokesperson for CNN said Wednesday evening, The Daily Beast reported.

According to documents from the university, Dennard not only expressed interest in a female graduate student who worked under him but also “pretended to unzip his pants in her presence, tried to get her to sit on his lap, and made masturbatory gestures.”

The documents also reveal that he admitted to touching one woman’s “neck with his tongue." He also went behind another woman and whispered in her ear that he wanted to “f--- her.”

Dennard “engaged in much of this behavior in the workplace and/or during work events. Such conduct, of course, is inappropriate . . . unprofessional and unbecoming of a university employee, and in violation of ASU policy,” the documents said.

The investigation began after two women working under him told superiors that his actions went too far and had made them uncomfortable. Dennard did not deny any of the charges and said they were done in jest.

According to a university official, Dennard was first placed on administrative leave at the start of the investigation in 2014. He was then “involuntarily separated” from his post in early 2015.

“I cannot comment on items I have never seen regarding allegations I still believe to be false. This is sadly another politically motivated attempt to besmirch my character, and shame me into silence for my support of President Trump and the GOP,” Dennard wrote in an emailed statement Wednesday.

Dennard was in news recently after he drew praise from President Donald Trump for his CNN debate with former CIA official Philip Mudd regarding the decision to revoke ex-CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance.

“Just watched former Intelligence Official Phillip Mudd become totally unglued and weird while debating wonderful Paris Dennard over Brennan’s Security Clearance. Dennard destroyed him but Mudd is in no mental condition to have such a Clearance. Should be REVOKED?” Trump tweeted Monday.

In reply, Mudd tweeted, “You ever get the sense that trump is the kind of guy who watched 101 Dalmatians as a kid and actively rooted against the dalmatians?”

Dennard has been active in national Republican Party politics since 2000. He worked in former President George W. Bush’s administration between 2005 and 2009 and served in several White House departments including Political Affairs, Legislative Affairs and Public Liaison. He was also named White House outreach director to the black community during the period.