NYT suspends White House correspondent over 'sexually inappropriate' conduct

NEW YORK: The New York Times has suspended a senior White House correspondent following accusations that he engaged in sexually inappropriate behaviour in a previous job, the newspaper said Monday.

It came after the website Vox accused Glenn Thrush of acting inappropriately toward young women while a reporter at Politico, his previous employer before joining the Times in January to cover the Trump administration.

"The alleged behaviour is very concerning and not in keeping with the standards and values of The New York Times," a spokesperson for the newspaper said Monday.

"We intend to fully investigate and while we do, Glenn will be suspended."

The Times supported a decision by Thrush to enter a substance abuse program, the spokesperson added.

Thrush has been one of six reporters covering the White House and President Donald Trump full time for the Times. He has also been writing a book about Trump with another Times colleague, Maggie Haberman.

His suspension follows the disgrace of other senior male journalists in the wake of the downfall of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, which opened the floodgates on accusations of sexual harassment and assault in countless industries.