<ul class="summary-list"><li>The game company behind "Call of Duty" and "Diablo" is being sued by the state of California.</li><li>A two-year investigation into the company found a pervasive "frat boy" culture.</li><li>Female employees faced "constant sexual harassment," the suit claims.</li></ul>The blockbuster video game company behind some of the world's biggest video game franchises is being sued by the state of California.The suit - filed on July 20 to the Los Angeles Supreme Court - comes after two years of investigation conducted by California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing. It accuses "Call of Duty" maker <keyword id="356746" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Activision">Activision</keyword> of fostering a "pervasive frat boy" culture where women are paid less for the same jobs that men perform, regularly face sexual harassment, and are targeted for reporting issues.In particular, the suit claims that female employees face "constant sexual harassment," from "having to continually fend off unwanted sexual comments" to "being groped." When employees report issues to human resources and management, the suit says, no action is taken."The company's executives and human resources personnel knew of the harassment and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the unlawful conduct," <a href="https://www.dfeh.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/07/BlizzardPR.7.21.21.pdf">a press release from DFEH says</a>, "and instead retaliated against women who complained."<h2>What the lawsuit is about</h2>The suit focuses on two primary violations - sexual harassment and discriminatory practices - and offers several examples of each."A newly promoted male supervisor delegated his responsibilities to his female subordinates in favor playing 'Call of Duty,'" the suit claims. One female employee who had taken on management responsibilities on the games team was told she couldn't be promoted by her male supervisor because, "she might get pregnant and like being a mom too much."In the case of sexual harassment, female employees reported being hit on, having comments made about their breasts, and jokes about rape being made at work. In one example cited in the lawsuit, "a female employee committed suicide while on a company trip due to a sexual relationship she had been having with her male supervisor."In the wake of California's DFEH making the litigation public, several Activision executives have stepped down - including the head of beloved "Diablo" studio <keyword id="70115" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="blizzard">Blizzard</keyword> <keyword id="4578" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="entertainment">Entertainment</keyword>, J. Allen Brack, and the company's head of human resources. <div type="image" title="J Allen Brack Blizzard" height="771" width="1154" msid="85191454" hostid="261"></div>An additional lawsuit, on behalf of investors, was <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210803005858/en/ATVI-INVESTOR-ALERT-ROSEN-A-LEADING-AND-LONGSTANDING-LAW-FIRM-Files-Securities-Class-Action-Lawsuit-Against-Activision-Blizzard-Inc.-%E2%80%93-ATVI">filed in early August</a> by Rosen Law Firm. It seeks unspecified damages on behalf of Activision investors, who it says were misled by Activision executives as a result of not disclosing details about workplace culture detailed in the DFEH lawsuit.<h2>Activision's initially defiant response</h2>Meanwhile, Activision's official statement on the lawsuit took a defiant tone."The DFEH includes distorted, and in many cases false, descriptions of Blizzard's past," the statement said. "We have been extremely cooperative with the DFEH throughout their investigation, including providing them with extensive data and ample documentation, but they refused to inform us what issues they perceived."Moreover, Activision's statement called the investigation, "irresponsible behavior from unaccountable State bureaucrats," and claimed that these types of investigations are, "driving many of the State's best businesses out of California."A similarly defiant email was circulated internally by chief compliance officer <keyword id="4576320" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="fran-townsend">Fran Townsend</keyword>, a former Homeland Security advisor to President George W. Bush. "A recently filed lawsuit presented a distorted and untrue picture of our company, including factually incorrect, old, and out of context stories," <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1418619091515068421/photo/1">Townsend said in an email to employees</a>. "We cannot let egregious actions of others, and a truly meritless and irresponsible lawsuit, damage our culture of respect and equal opportunity for all employees."<h2>Activision employees protest</h2>In response, more than 2,000 of Activision's approximately 9,500 employees signed a letter to the company's management criticising its response to the lawsuit."To put it clearly and unequivocally, our values as employees are not accurately reflected in the words and actions of our leadership," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/activision-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-employee-letter-abhorrent-and-insulting-2021-7">the letter, which was published on July 26, said</a>. "Categorizing the claims that have been made as 'distorted, and in many cases false' creates a company atmosphere that disbelieves victims." Activision CEO <keyword id="339516" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bobby-Kotick">Bobby Kotick</keyword> responded a day later, on July 27, with an apology to employees."Our initial responses to the issues we face together, and to your concerns, were, quite frankly, tone deaf," <a href="https://investor.activision.com/news-releases/news-release-details/letter-ceo-bobby-kotick-all-employees">he wrote</a>. "It is imperative that we acknowledge all perspectives and experiences and respect the feelings of those who have been mistreated in any way. I am sorry that we did not provide the right empathy and understanding."Kotick also promised to clean house by terminating, "anyone found to have impeded the integrity of our processes for evaluating claims and imposing appropriate consequences." The following day, on July 28, Activision employees <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/28/22598410/activision-blizzard-employee-walk-out-protest-sexism-discrimination-lawsuit">staged a walkout</a> and demanded changes at the company."We stand by the victims and are appalled by what we read," a walkout representative told The Verge. "This only makes us more committed to our task."Activision stock value has taken a major hit since the lawsuit went public, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/activision-blizzard-stock-lost-8-billion-market-value-discrimination-lawsuit-2021-7">to the tune of nearly $8 billion</a>, and it has yet to bounce back.Got a tip? Contact Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (<a href="mailto:bgilbert@insider.com">bgilbert@insider.com</a>), or Twitter DM (<a href="https://twitter.com/RealBenGilbert">@realbengilbert</a>). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.

The $62 billion company behind 'Call of Duty' is embroiled in a major sexual harassment lawsuit. Here's what's going on.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>J. Allen Brack, president of "Call of Duty" maker Blizzard <keyword id="4578" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="entertainment">Entertainment</keyword>, stepped down on Tuesday.</li><li>Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra were named as Blizzard's new co-leaders. </li><li>Last week, the state of California sued Activision Blizzard in a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/activision-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-employee-letter-abhorrent-and-insulting-2021-7">labor lawsuit</a> over sexual harassment claims.</li></ul>Blizzard Entertainment president J. Allen Brack is stepping down, the <a href="https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/blizzard/23706475/new-leadership-at-blizzard">company announced</a> on Tuesday. Activision Blizzard, the maker of popular <keyword id="25195" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="video-games">video games</keyword> such as "Call of Duty" and "Warcraft," faces a lawsuit from the state of California on sexual harassment and discrimination claims. Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra were named as Blizzard's new co-leaders, whom Brack said "can be trusted to lead with the highest levels of integrity and commitment to the components of our culture that make Blizzard so special."The lawsuit against Blizzard was filed after a two-year investigation into the California gaming giant, and alleged that the company had a "pervasive frat boy workplace culture." Many of the complaints took place before Brack became president in 2018.Women employees said Blizzard encouraged events like "cube crawls" during which male staff members "drink copious amounts of alcohol as they crawl their way through various cubicles in the office and often engage in inappropriate behavior toward female employees."According to <a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/activision-blizzard-sued-by-california-over-frat-boy-culture">Bloomberg Law</a>, one Blizzard employee took her own life during a company trip after being subjected to frequent sexual harassment, such as having nude photos circulated at a company holiday party.In response to the lawsuit, Activision executive VP Fran Townsend told employees in an email that the claims were "distorted and untrue," adding that it was "truly meritless and irresponsible."After the pushback from leadership, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/activision-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-employee-letter-abhorrent-and-insulting-2021-7">1,000 Activision employees wrote a letter protesting the company's response</a>. "To put it clearly and unequivocally," the letter said, "our values as employees are not accurately reflected in the words and actions of our leadership."Blizzard said that Oneal and Ybarra "are deeply committed to all of our employees; to the work ahead to ensure Blizzard is the safest, most welcoming workplace possible for women, and people of any gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or background."

Blizzard Entertainment president J. Allen Brack steps down following company's sexual harassment lawsuit

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The state of California is suing "Call of Duty" maker <keyword id="167018" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Activision-Blizzard">Activision Blizzard</keyword>.</li><li>The <keyword id="6377259" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lawsuit">lawsuit</keyword> alleges a "pervasive frat boy culture" where female staffers were harassed.</li><li>After execs pushed back, a group of over 1,000 employees signed a joint letter lambasting them.</li></ul><keyword id="356746" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Activision">Activision</keyword> employees said the company's response to a new lawsuit was "abhorrent and insulting" in a letter sent to management, several media reports said."To put it clearly and unequivocally," the letter from over 1,000 Activision employees said, "our values as employees are not accurately reflected in the words and actions of our leadership."The letter, reportedly sent to management this week, was created in the wake of a new lawsuit brought by California against Activision. The suit alleges a "pervasive frat boy" culture at the company, where female employees were harassed, paid less than their male counterparts, and retaliated against by human resources when they reported issues.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/activision-blizzard-lawsuit-women-scandal-california-world-of-warcraft-influencers-2021-7">Activision Blizzard influencers are turning their backs on the video game giant after a lawsuit claimed that female employees dealt with harassment and discrimination</a>Activision's "'frat boy' culture is a breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women," the suit says. The suit, brought by California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing, was filed after a two-year investigation into the California <keyword id="6357332" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gaming">gaming</keyword> giant behind franchises such as "Call of Duty" and "Overwatch."In response, Activision executive VP Fran Townsend told employees in an email that the claims in the filing were "distorted and untrue." The suit, she said, was "truly meritless and irresponsible."In the letter, signed by over 1,000 Activision employees, which <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-26/activision-blizzard-staff-sign-petition-supporting-labor-lawsuit?sref=BWbpWjRm">Bloomberg</a> and <a href="https://kotaku.com/over-1-000-activision-blizzard-employees-sign-letter-co-1847364340">Kotaku</a> reported was sent to Activision executives this week, staffers criticized management as fostering "a company atmosphere that disbelieves victims."California's DFEH interviewed current and former employees for its investigation and said it found rampant misconduct across departments at the company. Female employees on the "World of Warcraft" team, for instance, were said to have received sexual advances from male coworkers. Some male staffers on the team reportedly made rape jokes.Activision Blizzard is a publicly traded video-game maker and publisher with more than 9,000 employees. A spokesperson told Insider in a statement that "the picture the DFEH paints is not the Blizzard workplace of today."Got a tip? Contact Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (<a href="mailto:bgilbert@insider.com">bgilbert@insider.com</a>), or Twitter DM (<a href="https://twitter.com/RealBenGilbert">@realbengilbert</a>). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a nonwork device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.

A letter from over 1,000 employees at gaming giant Activision called the company's response to a sexual-harassment lawsuit 'abhorrent and insulting'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="167018" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Activision-Blizzard">Activision Blizzard</keyword> employees walked out Wednesday in response to a recent lawsuit.</li><li>Organizers have a series of demands that company leadership has not yet responded to. </li><li>#ActiBlizzWalkout trended on social media in response to the walkout with over 100,000 tweets.</li></ul>On Wednesday, Activision Blizzard employees walked out to protest the company's response to a lawsuit filed last week.The lawsuit, filed by California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), alleged that the video-gaming company engaged in unfair workplace practices, discriminated against female employees, and failed to take disciplinary action against bad actors. Activision Blizzard is the holding company whose subsidiaries Activision Publishing and Blizzard Entertainment have published video-game staples like "World of Warcraft," "Overwatch," and "Call of Duty."Current and former employees of the company, as well as supporters of the protest, gathered outside Blizzard Entertainment's Irvine, California, campus on Wednesday to protest the leadership's response to the lawsuit. Over 500 people gathered to protest, according to <a href="https://www.upcomer.com/activision-blizzard-employees-walkout-demand-change-after-lawsuit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Upcomer,</a> filling the sidewalk of Laguna Canyon Road. The protest came after a letter <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/activision-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-employee-letter-abhorrent-and-insulting-2021-7">signed by over 2,000 employees</a> accused the company on Monday of creating an "atmosphere that disbelieves victims" and that "our values as employees are not accurately reflected in the words and actions of our leadership." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Donovan (@donovanidk) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1420446488581210116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/activision-blizzard-lawsuit-women-scandal-california-world-of-warcraft-influencers-2021-7">The DFEH alleged in its July 20 complaint</a>, filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, that Activision Blizzard created a "frat boy environment" leading to women receiving lower wages, unfair treatment, and sexual harassment. The DFEH declined to comment for this story. Blizzard President J. Allen Brack sent an internal email to employees on July 22, <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1418512291218264065">as reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier</a>, writing that the accusations made him "angry, sad" and that they "take these claims very seriously."Executive Fran Townsend sent out her own email, which was also obtained by Schreier, said that the lawsuit "presented a distorted and untrue picture of our company" and called the suit "meritless and irresponsible." <h2>Activision Blizzard employees made demands to leadership </h2>On Tuesday, the day after 2,000 employees signed the open letter to management, <a href="https://www.wowhead.com/news/activision-blizzard-employees-are-staging-a-walkout-protest-on-wednesday-323572">Blizzard fansite WoWHead</a> obtained a series of demands from the collective of employees, which was also shared on social media.The demands include an end to all mandatory arbitration clauses, policies "designed to improve representation among employees at all levels," the publication of employment data, and the creation of a "Diversity, Equity, &amp; Inclusion task force." On Tuesday night, CEO of Activision Blizzard <a href="https://investor.activision.com/news-releases/news-release-details/letter-ceo-bobby-kotick-all-employees">Bobby Kotick released his own statement</a> calling the company's initial responses "tone deaf." He added, "we did not provide the right empathy and understanding." Organizers of the Activision Blizzard walkout released their own statement in response to Kotick, writing "the response fails to address critical elements at the heart of employee concerns."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Megan Farokhmanesh (@Megan_Nicolett) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1420410776666443778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote><h2>#ActiBlizzWalkout trends worldwide in response to the allegations </h2>In a span of 24 hours, the hashtag "#ActiBlizzWalkout," started by former employees of the company to show solidarity, went viral. The hashtag has been used over 100,000 times on <keyword id="6354616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> in under 24 hours, according to the platform.The walkout message asks that those that cannot attend not play any of the company's titles for that period and donate to a series of charities including <a href="https://www.blackgirlscode.com/">Black Girls Code</a> and <a href="https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/">Futures Without Violence.</a>During the walkout, the live player count of "World of Warcraft" according to <a href="https://activeplayer.io/world-of-warcraft/">ActvePlayer.io</a> was around 69,000 compared to the peak of the month hovering around 600,000. Activision Blizzard did not respond to a request for comment by publication.

#ActiBlizzWalkout goes viral as Activision Blizzard employees walk out to protest the gaming giant's alleged discriminatory practices

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5919b7f91442931b008b551d-2162/gettyimages-626300460.jpg" alt="Fran Townsend" />Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesFran Townsend.A former FBI agent with more than two decades of service told Business Insider in a recent interview that they believed Fran Townsend, President George W. Bush's homeland security adviser, would be a great choice for the bureau's next director.The former agent, who spoke on background to provide their candid thoughts on the fallout of President Donald Trump's bombshell firing of FBI Director James Comey last week, said Townsend would check off a lot of boxes for Trump.The former agent said Townsend was well liked and respected by "those that are in the know" from her time working in both the Bush administration and President Bill Clinton's Department of Justice, adding that they were unaware of any "real negatives" she'd bring to the job. She has a breadth of experience involving national-security issues, the former agent said, and that a woman would "be the smart pick" for Trump to nominate to the post.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-the-candidates-under-consideration-for-fbi-director-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Townsend's name has begun</a> to appear in other media reports as well. <a href="https://twitter.com/KellyO/status/863515942600540161" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NBC reported</a> on Saturday that Townsend was being interviewed for the opening, and <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/top-terror-adviser-spotted-white-house-hours-fbi/story?id=47335248" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ABC reported</a> that she was spotted at the White House the day Comey was fired.Townsend has recently worked as a national-security analyst for CBS and, before that, CNN. She was a federal prosecutor in New York and the leader of the Justice Department's Office of Intelligence Policy and Review before taking a job in the Bush administration.The former agent said they thought former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan, who once worked as a special agent at the FBI and was the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, would also be a good pick. Rogers <a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/333273-fbi-agents-association-wants-trump-to-nominate-former-rep-mike-rogers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">received the endorsement</a> of the FBI Agents Association last week and is <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-05-11/trump-said-to-consider-ex-congressman-rogers-for-fbi-director">reportedly under consideration</a> for the job.The former agent said many other candidates would be too partisan to be confirmed. He cited New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as an example."Some of these names they're throwing around, there's just no way," the former agent said. "Too partisan right now. And even though you only need the Republicans to get congressional approval, all it takes is a couple senators to go, 'Nah, that's too controversial,' and somebody a little more palatable can be picked."The former agent said that acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, who <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/mccabe-sen-cornyn-among-8-interviewed-fbi-search-sources-n758941">interviewed for the top job</a> over the weekend, had "zero chance." They added that a deputy director had never ascended to the top post in the agency's history and that McCabe was still embroiled in a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/10/politics/grassley-mccabe-director/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">controversy involving</a> his wife's run for Virginia Senate in 2015.The former agent addressed the possibility of nominating DC Circuit Court Chief Judge Merrick Garland, which has been <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/merrick-garland-fbimike-lee-pence-trump-james-comey-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tossed around by a top Republican senator</a> and promoted by several leaders on the left and right. Garland was President Barack Obama's Supreme Court pick whose nomination in 2016 was successfully obstructed by Senate Republicans."Merrick Garland?!" the former agent said before taking a lengthy pause. "No way."Whoever the pick is, the former agent said they would have to be "pretty strong-willed" and "just like Comey.""They've got to be ready for a no-win situation," the former agent said. "A guy like Comey, again, there aren't a whole lot of them out there."<h3>More from Allan Smith:</h3><ul><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-the-russians-2017-5" rel="nofollow">Trump reportedly revealed highly classified information to the Russians last week that the US hasn't even 'shared with our own allies'</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/reporter-grills-sean-spicer-trump-tapes-2017-5" rel="nofollow">"Why won't you just explain whether or not there are recordings?': Reporter grills Spicer after he refused to say whether Trump is recording conversations</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fbi-agent-james-comey-firing-trump-russia-2017-5" rel="nofollow">'This might rally them': Former FBI agent says Trump's move to fire Comey could backfire</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fbi-agent-trump-next-director-2017-5" rel="nofollow">Former FBI agent: Here's who Trump should pick as the next FBI director</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-trade-agenda-nafta-china-tpp-2017-4" rel="nofollow">Trump's allies see a 'civil war' on trade within his administration, and which side wins is anyone's guess</a></li></ul> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-vladimir-putin-respond-comey-firing-hockey-game-fbi-cbs-video-politics-russia-investigation-2017-5">WATCH: Putin reacts to Trump firing FBI Director James Comey</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Former FBI agent: Here's who Trump should pick as the next FBI director

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59259db734911bf34f8b5a16-2400/gettyimages-684629096.jpg" alt="Donald Trump" />Mark Wilson/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump.The White House is resetting its search to replace ousted FBI Director James Comey, a senior administration official <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/24/politics/expanded-fbi-search-lawyers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told CNN Wednesday</a>.Just last week, prior to embarking on his first foreign trip as president, Donald Trump said he was nearing his decision on who he would nominate to replace Comey, whom he fired earlier this month.At the time, former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/joe-lieberman-trump-fbi-director-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">was considered the frontrunner</a> for the position. But now, per the administration official, Trump wants to consider more candidates for the job.Lieberman, who served in the Senate as both a Democrat and an independent and was Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore's running mate in 2000, currently serves as senior counsel at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres, &amp; Friedman. Multiple news outlets have reported that Trump is expected to hire Marc Kasowitz of that law firm to serve as his lead counsel on matters related to the Russia investigation, which would create a conflict if Lieberman were to serve as FBI director.Comey oversaw the FBI's investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian officials to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. Since <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-week-fbi-russia-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">his controversial ouster</a>, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller, himself a former FBI director, to serve as special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation.Other candidates who've interviewed for the top FBI job include acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, former congressman and FBI agent Mike Rogers, and former President George W. Bush's Homeland Security adviser <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fbi-agent-trump-next-director-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fran Townsend</a>. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/betsy-devos-gets-college-graduation-bethune-cookman-education-secretary-historically-black-college-2017-5">Betsy DeVos gets loudly booed during a commencement speech at a historically black university</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Trump is reportedly hitting the reset button in his search for a new FBI director

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/589103be47575291018b5086-2200/rtx8csp.jpg" alt="Joe Lieberman" />REUTERS/Mike SegarSenator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) speaks at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota September 2, 2008.Former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman formally withdrew his name from consideration to replace James Comey as director of the FBI on Thursday after President Donald Trump selected a lawyer from Lieberman's law firm to represent him in various investigations into possible Russian election interference.Lieberman, who <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/joe-lieberman-trump-fbi-director-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">was reportedly the frontrunner</a> for the position, said that being considered for the role was "a great honor because of my enormous respect for the men and women of the FBI."He added, however, that with Trump's selection of Marc Kasowitz to represent him, "I do believe it would be best to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, given my role as senior counsel in the law firm of which Marc is the senior partner."Lieberman, who served in the Senate as both a Democrat and an independent and who was Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore's running mate in 2000, now serves as senior counsel at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres, &amp; Friedman.Trump is still searching for someone to replace Comey, whom he fired earlier this month amid the FBI's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russians. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has since appointed a special counsel, former FBI director Robert Mueller, to oversee the Russia probe.Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, former congressman and FBI agent Mike Rogers, and President George W. Bush's Homeland Security adviser <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fbi-agent-trump-next-director-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fran Townsend</a> have also interviewed for the top FBI job.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Joe Lieberman withdraws his name from consideration as FBI director <a href="https://t.co/tTjGLjOOUV">pic.twitter.com/tTjGLjOOUV</a>- NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/867774860331765760">May 25, 2017</a></blockquote> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/rep-al-green-calls-for-trumps-impeachment-russia-comey-2017-5">'Our democracy is at risk': Watch Rep. Al Green call for Trump's impeachment</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman withdraws name from consideration as FBI director amid conflict of interest concerns

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a735dba24d505681b8b48b6-2000/ap17341582974545.jpg" alt="christopher wray" data-mce-source="Carolyn Kaster/AP" data-mce-caption="FBI director Christopher Wray" data-link="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/FBI-Director/a5112066dbff471cbcc98d9a204a357b/25/0" /><a href="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/FBI-Director/a5112066dbff471cbcc98d9a204a357b/25/0">Carolyn Kaster/AP</a>FBI director Christopher Wray</div></div></div><ul><li>FBI Director Christopher Wray is prepared to refute the unverified memo written by Rep. Devin Nunes that alleges misconduct on the part of the FBI and the Department of Justice.</li><li>President Donald Trump has stated that he is prepared to release the memo, despite claims from both sides of the aisle in Congress that it omits crucial details and distorts key facts.</li><li>Wray has previously butted heads with Trump on issues relating to the FBI.</li></ul><hr /> FBI Director Christopher Wray says he is ready to issue a rebuttal to the controversial memo authored by Rep. Devin Nunes once it is cleared for release by President Donald Trump, according to a former homeland security adviser. "I think we have to remember the Nunes memo is an advocacy piece. It's not a fact piece. This is Chairman Nunes' summary of what he believes the abuses are. For that reason, it's one-sided," Fran Townsend, a homeland security adviser to former President George W. Bush, told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-director-prepared-to-issue-rebuttal-if-nunes-memo-released-fran-townsend/">CBS News</a>.The Nunes memo, which alleges misconduct on the part of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI with regard to surveilling former members of President Donald Trump's campaign staff, was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/house-intel-republicans-vote-to-release-secret-memo-on-russia-probe-2018-1">approved for release</a> through a party line vote in the House Intelligence Committee earlier this week, and Trump is likely to clear it for public disclosure in the coming days.The FBI issued a rare public statement on the memo through their website on Wednesday."With regard to the House Intelligence Committee's memorandum, the FBI was provided a limited opportunity to review this memo the day before the committee voted to release it," the statement read. "As expressed during our initial review, we have grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo's accuracy."Wray had previously stated that he was opposed to the public release of a classified memo, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-31/trump-says-100-percent-after-he-s-asked-to-release-gop-memo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg reported</a>. Wray had frequently butted heads with Trump, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fbi-director-chris-wray-threatened-resignation-over-jeff-sessions-pressure-2018-1">threatened to resign</a> when the president requested that he fire FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. McCabe eventually resigned of his own accord after numerous attacks from the White House earlier this week. The memo's release has drawn condemnation from the FBI, DOJ, Democrats, as well as some Republicans like Sen. John Thune."I think they have to take into consideration what the FBI is saying," Thune <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/01/fbi-nunes-memo-gop-senate-382579">said</a>, referring to Republicans in the House. "I think they need to pay careful attention to what our folks who protect us have to say about how this bears on our national security."Trump has reportedly read the memo, and has stated that he is prepared to release it as early as Thursday. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/georgetown-professor-reveals-people-wrong-mlk-martin-luther-king-jr-race-black-radical-racism-2017-5">A Georgetown professor explains how Martin Luther King Jr. 'has been severely whitewashed'</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/A9IMCemL-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

The director of the FBI seems prepared to publicly dispute the Nunes memo once it is released

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/516f39b5ecad04b712000008-555-416/cnn-12.jpg?maxX=400" border="0" alt="CNN" width="400" /></div><keyword id="82130" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="CNN">CNN</keyword></div>CNN suffered a public shaming after erroneously reporting Wednesday that an arrest <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/news-organizations-go-back-on-reports-that-boston-bombing-suspect-has-been-arrested-2013-4" target="_blank">had been made in connection with the Boston Marathon bombings</a>.
According to a source at CNN, the network was the first to report that a suspect had been identified. Anchor John King sent in a report around 1 p.m. that a source "briefed" on the investigation had told King a positive identification had been made. CNN Washington bureau chief Sam Feist approved that report, according to the source.
According to the source, who was reviewing internal email logs, Fran Townsend was the first at the network to say that an arrest had been made. 
"As I think everyone knows, we really f—ed up. No way around it," the source said.
The source said that the network's email network went quiet for a 15-minute period shortly after the retraction — "so people [were] either being more cautious or getting yelled at."
Townsend's report came around the same time as other outlets, including the Associated Press and the Boston Globe, also reported an arrest, so it is not clear whether CNN was the first to make the mistake. 
Regardless, unforced error marked another black eye for the network and its new president Jeff Zucker. Last year, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cnn-reports-obamacare-individual-mandate-killed-by-supreme-court-2012-6" target="_blank">CNN memorably botched a report</a> saying that the Supreme Court had struck down the Affordable Care Act. Under Zucker, the network has faced criticism for some of its coverage, including extensive <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cnns-cruise-ship-coverage-jon-stewart-joe-scarborough-2013-2" target="_blank">reports on the Carnival Triumph "poop cruise</a>." 
Wednesday's false arrest reports also drew <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/boston-marathon-arrest-bombing-reports-fbi-2013-4" target="_blank">a scathing rebuke from the FBI</a>, which urged the press "to exercise caution and attempt to verify information through appropriate official channels before reporting."

CNN SOURCE: Everyone Went Silent For 15 Minutes After We Screwed Up The Boston Marathon Report

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<div class="image-container" style="width:630px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/516eed686bb3f77e7b00000d-1122-842/marathon.png?maxX=630" border="0" alt="Marathon" width="630" /></div><a href="http://bcove.me/qwi5k6ap">Boston Globe</a></div> 
The FBI <a href="http://www.fbi.gov/boston/press-releases/2013/no-arrest-made-in-bombing-investigation">denies</a> that an arrest has been made in the Boston Marathon bombing. Reuters sources also <a href="https://twitter.com/katyawachtel/status/324588958765940736">deny</a> the reports.
UPDATES: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/news-organizations-go-back-on-reports-that-boston-bombing-suspect-has-been-arrested-2013-4#ixzz2QkQnxxc4">CNN and other news organizations reverse reports that suspect has been identified &gt;</a>
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/boston-marathon-arrest-bombing-reports-fbi-2013-4#ixzz2QkUDfEsE">FBI shreds the media over unverified Boston Marathon reports</a>
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/boston-marathon-arrest-reports-2013-4#ixzz2QqsGvsGz">Today's Boston Marathon media fiasco in one huge chart</a>
Earlier CNN's John King reported that an arrest has been made in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing, according to federal law enforcement sources.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/boston-marathon-arrest-reports-2013-4#ixzz2QqsGvsGz"></a>
CNN's Fran Townsend, who originally reported that an arrest has been made, then said that reports of an arrest was due to miscommunication on law enforcement's part.
CNN's John King has also walked back on his reports that an arrest has been made.
<a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/324584418196983809">Fox News</a> confirmed the arrest independently, and the <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/324583755350147072">Associated Press</a> the <a href="https://twitter.com/BostonGlobe/status/324589004412571648">Boston Globe</a> reported that the suspect was in custody and was being brought to court by federal marshals.
<a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/324595569731436546">Fox News</a>, the <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/324595020059537408%20">AP</a>, and the <a href="https://twitter.com/BostonGlobe/status/324592303211696130">Boston Globe</a> are walking back on its reports.
<a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/324584027166228480">CBS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/324586306518802433">NBC</a> reported, according to their sources, that no arrest has been made.
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
Earlier a law enforcement source <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/324569682554286080">told</a> CNN's John King that the suspect was seen carrying and placing a black bag at the spot of the second bombing. He added that authorities "believe they have a clear identification, including a facial image of a suspect."
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/explosion-at-boston-marathon-2013-4">bombings</a> killed three and wounded more than 180.
CNN reported that video from a Boston TV station and a nearby Lord &amp; Taylor department store helped ID the suspect.
The Lord &amp; Taylor is right across the street from where the second bombing occurred (click to zoom):
<div class="image-container click-to-enlarge" style="width:630px"><div class="image"><a title_source="Google" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/516c681069beddd517000004-960/first%20and%20second%20bomb.jpeg"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/516c681069beddd517000004-1527-661/first%20and%20second%20bomb.jpeg" border="0" alt="first and second bomb boston map" width="630" /></a></div>Google</div>

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