Incriminating Sexual Harrassment Letter of HP CEO Released
An incriminating, explicit letter accusing former Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd of sexual harassment has been made public following a court order.
The eight-page letter gives detailed accounts of Hurd’s sexual advances towards Jodie Fisher, a former reality TV star and greeter at HP. According to the letter, written by celebrity lawyer Gloria Alfred, Hurd repeatedly approached Fisher for sex.
The letter tells the story of a two year period wherein Hurd pressured Fisher to have dinner with him, hug him, sleep in his room and have sex with him, according to CNN. Fisher, a former actress in pornographic movies, continuously rejected his advances, according to the letter.
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The letter highlighted an incident between Hurd and Fisher, where she was hired to attend an event at the Atlanta Ritz-Carlton hotel. As Fisher recalled, the two had dinner together after the event and Hurd invited her to his room afterwards. He told her he wanted her to view some documents about a Chinese vice premier, whom Hurd was supposed to meet.
Fisher said he fondled her and asked her to stay the night and she rejected him. Hurd responded by saying he was never rejected and demanded at least a hug, according to CNN.
“Ms. Fisher was horrified,” according to the letter, which also said she left after hours of refusing Hurd.
However, a source revealed that Fisher may have sent an email soon after the Atlanta confrontation, saying that she couldn’t wait to see him again. The email subject line said, “great to see you,” according to an NDTV report.
Hurd continued his advances at Fisher, which included telling her about women he had slept with, saying they were “crazy about him.”
The letter alleges that he tried to use his status and wealth to charm Fisher, who had no interest in Hurd. He reportedly discussed private matters with her, including private HP business affairs. He also urged her to run away with him and offered her anything she needed.
He told her that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, but needed “to see how the chemistry in bed was.” Fisher declined. In 2009, he allegedly grabbed her and kissed her. When she said she was sick and had to leave, her contract was not renewed and that was the last she heard of Hurd.
The June 2010 letter led to the end of Hurd’s career with HP, even though Fisher admitted that the letter wasn’t completely accurate. She also stated that she didn’t believe his behavior was detrimental to the company.
Hurd, now a co-president of the Oracle Corporation, privately settled Fisher’s charges of sexual harassment.
Ken Gluek, a senior vice president at Oracle, said Fisher had recanted the letter.
“She admitted it was full of inaccuracies,” Gluek said in an NDTV report.
An HP investigation found no evidence of sexual harassment, but it discovered that Hurd inappropriately used company funds to take Fisher on dates and other events.
The letter was supposed to remain private as part of Hurd’s settlement with Fisher, but an HP shareholder sued to make it public. Ernesto Espinoza argued that stockholders should be able to determine whether Hurd’s hefty severance package of $12 million was appropriate.
Allegations of wrongdoing could void his right to severance.
