HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026768.jpg

2.44 MB

Extraction Summary

4
People
4
Organizations
1
Locations
1
Events
3
Relationships
5
Quotes

Document Information

Type: Email chain
File Size: 2.44 MB
Summary

This document is an email chain from December 11, 2017, in which physicist Lawrence Krauss forwards his response to a BuzzFeed News inquiry regarding sexual harassment allegations to Sam Harris and Travis Pangburn. In the forwarded message to reporter Peter Aldhous, Krauss categorically denies the allegations, stating 'I do not sexually harass people,' and claims the upcoming story is an attempt to smear him and potentially other atheists. Krauss cites his good standing with universities and the Center for Inquiry (CFI) as evidence of his proper conduct.

People (4)

Name Role Context
Lawrence Krauss Sender / Subject of Inquiry
Physicist and author defending himself against sexual harassment allegations from BuzzFeed.
Sam Harris Recipient
Received the email from Krauss explaining the situation.
Travis Pangburn CC Recipient
Copied on the email from Krauss.
Peter Aldhous Reporter (BuzzFeed)
Recipient of the forwarded email; the reporter investigating the allegations.

Organizations (4)

Name Type Context
BuzzFeed
Media outlet preparing a story on sexual harassment allegations against Krauss.
CFI (Center for Inquiry)
Organization where Krauss is an honorary director and speaker; mentioned as having strict harassment policies.
Universities
General reference to academic institutions Krauss is associated with.
House Oversight
Referenced in the document footer (likely source of the document dump).

Timeline (1 events)

December 11, 2017
Meeting in Phoenix
Phoenix (implied)

Locations (1)

Location Context
Destination Krauss is flying to.

Relationships (3)

Lawrence Krauss Professional/Personal Associate Sam Harris
Krauss forwards sensitive legal/PR correspondence to Harris effectively coordinating a defense or keeping him informed.
Lawrence Krauss Adversarial (Subject/Reporter) Peter Aldhous
Aldhous is investigating Krauss for sexual harassment; Krauss is denying claims.
Lawrence Krauss Honorary Director/Speaker CFI
Krauss mentions his role and good standing with the organization.

Key Quotes (5)

"I do not sexually harass people."
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026768.jpg
Quote #1
"They have clearly decided in advance to try to smear me, and potentially other atheists"
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026768.jpg
Quote #2
"It is hard to know how to respond to a list of false and/or distorted allegations, along with misleading statements."
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026768.jpg
Quote #3
"My high public profile opens me up to more scrutiny at these institutions, not less"
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026768.jpg
Quote #4
"as a scientist I try and remain skeptical, and rely on empirical evidence, rather than allegations and innuendo by people whose motives I cannot judge."
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026768.jpg
Quote #5

Full Extracted Text

Complete text extracted from the document (3,399 characters)

From: Lawrence Krauss [
Sent: 12/11/2017 5:47:53 PM
To: Sam Harris [
CC: Travis Pangburn [ ; Lawrence Krauss [
Subject: Re: Sexual harassment and Lawrence Krauss from
Attachments: image002.png
Importance: High
I was planning on writing both of you today or tomorrow if buzzfeed decided to go ahead with their story after I wrote to them, but since they sent this to you here is what I was planning to forward.. namely my response to their email and their original email. I hope it helps. They have clearly decided in advance to try to smear me, and potentially other atheists (I found the remarks in their 'miscellaneous facts' telling in this regard), and I felt a detailed response to the false claims was important. If you want to discuss this further I am happy to. I am currently on a plane heading to phoenix.
Thanks for forwarding.
LMK
Begin forwarded message:
From: Lawrence Krauss <
Subject: Re: URGENT: BuzzFeed News inquiry re allegations of sexual harassment
Date: December 11, 2017 at 10:18:30 AM MST
To: Peter Aldhous
Cc:
I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your email. I am currently on a plane until noon pacific time, and then heading to a meeting right after landing, till about 2 pm or so. While I am running the risk that you will report my comments, if you do, either out of context, or incompletely, I am responding with an effort to be complete, as I always try and do with reporters. If you decide to go ahead with a story, which, after reading my responses, I hope you decide is inappropriate, I would like you to quote my responses fully in order not to distort them.
It is hard to know how to respond to a list of false and/or distorted allegations, along with misleading statements. I treat people I interact with with respect, and I work hard to support and mentor students, colleagues, and members of the general public, and this is supported by the institutions of which I am a part. I do not sexually harass people. If the purpose of your reporting is to somehow argue that Universities and other institutions are lax in dealing with well known individuals like myself, then in fact the situation is quite the opposite. My high public profile opens me up to more scrutiny at these institutions, not less, and it also opens me up to a host of unfounded outside complaints and allegations that other faculty do not receive, each of which the University has to respond to. The fact that I have remained a professor in all Universities with which I have been associated, in good standing, and also an officer or an invited speaker at organizations like CFI, which have strict harassment policies, is a confirmation of the fact that their experience validates a trust in my behavior. I was asked to be an honorary director of CFI, and continue to be invited to their last 3 meetings to speak, specifically because, as they have written me after the fact, the attendees universally appreciated my talks, my courtesy, and graciousness in spending time with the attendees. If the purpose of your report is to impugn my integrity or suggest I have a history of harassment, that too is false. As noted in one of your 'miscellaneous facts', as a scientist I try and remain skeptical, and rely on empirical evidence, rather than allegations and innuendo by people whose motives I cannot judge. I also try and judge the facts in context. The
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026768

Discussion 0

Sign in to join the discussion

No comments yet

Be the first to share your thoughts on this epstein document