Bloomberg says he will release 3 women from non-disclosure agreements
(dpa)
Washington - Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City, on Friday offered to release three women from non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) over complaints about alleged sexist remarks he had made.
Bloomberg had come under fire for silencing former employees through NDAs during his first appearance at a Democratic presidential debate earlier this week.
The presidential candidate said his financial data company had identified three NDAs signed over the past 30 years with women "to address complaints about comments they said [he] had made."
"If any of them want to be released from their NDA so that they can talk about those allegations, they should contact the company and they'll be given a release," Bloomberg said in a statement.
"I recognize that NDAs, particularly when they are used in the context of sexual harassment and sexual assault, promote a culture of silence in the workplace and contribute to a culture of women not feeling safe or supported," he continued.
During Wednesday's debate, Bloomberg brushed off criticism from Senator Elizabeth Warren and other rivals over his alleged history of making degrading comments towards women and refusing to release them from NDAs.
"None of them accuse me of doing anything other than maybe they didn't like a joke I told," Bloomberg said to groans from the audience. "They signed those agreements, and we'll live with it."
Warren repeatedly urged him to release women from the agreements.
"Mike Bloomberg can easily release the women who have accused him of sexual harassment — and who voluntarily want to speak about their experiences — from their non-disclosure agreements," she tweeted on Thursday.
"If any of them want to be released from their NDA so that they can talk about those allegations, they should contact the company and they'll be given a release," Bloomberg said in a statement.
"I recognize that NDAs, particularly when they are used in the context of sexual harassment and sexual assault, promote a culture of silence in the workplace and contribute to a culture of women not feeling safe or supported," he continued.
During Wednesday's debate, Bloomberg brushed off criticism from Senator Elizabeth Warren and other rivals over his alleged history of making degrading comments towards women and refusing to release them from NDAs.
"None of them accuse me of doing anything other than maybe they didn't like a joke I told," Bloomberg said to groans from the audience. "They signed those agreements, and we'll live with it."
Warren repeatedly urged him to release women from the agreements.
"Mike Bloomberg can easily release the women who have accused him of sexual harassment — and who voluntarily want to speak about their experiences — from their non-disclosure agreements," she tweeted on Thursday.