WASHINGTON: American television legend Charlie Rose and star New York Times reporter Glenn Thrush — both suspended on Tuesday — are the latest accused in a social awareness campaign that has felled many celebrities across the United States since last month.

The campaign — dubbed the “Me Too tsunami” by the US media — started in October when 50 women in Hollywood accused a powerful film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexually exploiting young and struggling actresses.

The “Me Too” campaigners reminded women that they were exploited because they remained silent and urged women across the world to speak up. Millions responded, tweeting or posting their stories on the social media.

In America, the movement exposed dozens of powerful men in politics, media, the film industry and other places. But none shook America more than the scandal involving Charlie Rose, 75, who was respected across the country for his balanced views on all issue of public concern.

On Monday evening, The Washington Post revealed that eight women were accusing this long-time television host of making unwanted sexual advances toward them when they worked for him. The evidence against Mr Rose were so damning that CBS News and PBS immediately suspended him and distributors of his shows backed out.

The allegations also forced Mr Rose to issue a statement, saying that he thought he had the consensus of the women he exploited, but now he realised he was “obviously mistaken”.

While Americans were still trying to deal with this, another scandal hit them within hours of the first, as The New York Times suspended its White House correspondent Glenn Thrush for alleged sexual misconduct. Like Mr Rose, he too tried to fake “consensus”, but acknowledged later that he acted “improperly” and agreed to seek treatment for his addiction to alcohol.

Mr Thrush was writing a book on President Donald Trump’s alleged misconduct but may have to abandon the project, as few would want to read an author involved in a similar behaviour.

Also on Tuesday, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Paul Ryan said that allegations of serial sexual harassment against Congressman John Conyers were “extremely troubling” and encouraged congressional staff to report complaints of sexual misbehaviour too him.

Mr Conyers and Senator Al Franken, also a Democrat, are both accused of using their positions to seek sexual favours from young congressional aides and interns.

Republican politician Roy Moore, who is running for the Senate from Alabama, faces even more serious charges, approaching underage women, one of them just 13, for sex.

The US media reported on Tuesday that the “Me Too” campaign has changed America. Unlike 2016, when voters ignored similar allegations against Mr Trump, such allegations could impact the 2018 election, when Americans will re-elect the entire House.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2017