Lawsuit Exposes Former CNN Executive's Shocking Sexual Assault

In a lawsuit recently filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court, she accuses a high-profile media executive, Michael Bass, of sexually assaulting her during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

She asserts that the alleged incident occurred while they worked for NBC. During that period, Bass served as a coordinating producer for the "Today" show's Olympics coverage, while Rajaraman was an NBC production assistant.

As part of her lawsuit, Rajaraman suggests that a culture of senior NBC employees engaging in inappropriate relationships with their younger staff members was prevalent during her alleged assault. The incident occurred in July 1996 when Rajaraman, then a 20-year-old college sophomore, found herself alone with Bass in his hotel suite under the pretext of needing to use the bathroom.

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The court documents provide a harrowing account of Rajaraman being lured into the hotel suite, where she was led to believe Bass's wife and newborn were present. However, once inside, she quickly realized she was alone with her boss. The suit alleges that Bass proceeded to kiss and grope her without consent, making unwanted advances under her clothes.

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June 25, 2023

Bass, who was considered a "superstar" and an "up-and-comer" at NBC at the time, allegedly threatened Rajaraman later the same day. The suit claims he warned her to remain silent about the incident. Bass's career has since seen him ascend to significant roles, including senior executive producer for CBS News' morning shows and, most recently, Executive Vice President of programming for CNN, a position he held until the previous year.

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In addition to the assault, the lawsuit alleges that Rajaraman was also subject to professional retribution. She claims that her former boss ensured her rejection from several job opportunities in New York City after she rejected his advances. According to her online biography, Rajaraman has subsequently found employment with several media outlets, including CNN, HBO, and CBS.

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The lawsuit is filed under the auspices of the Adult Survivors Act. Passed in 2022 by New York state lawmakers, this act provides adult victims of sexual abuse with a one-year window, ending in November, to file civil suits that the statute of limitations would have previously barred. Meagan Goddard, Rajaraman's attorney, hailed the act, saying it has granted her client the opportunity to seek justice for the alleged assault.

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Rajaraman declined to comment through her attorney and is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, alleging that the 1996 incident resulted in "life-altering trauma."

In response to the lawsuit, an NBC spokesperson stated that the company is reviewing the complaint. Bass, however, has not responded to requests for comment.