NBC's Mark Halperin accused of sexual harassment by five women

NBC senior political analyst and frequent MSNBC "Morning Joe" panelist Mark Halperin has been accused of sexual harassment by five women while at ABC News in the early 2000s, according to a CNN report.

The co-author of the best-selling book "Game Change" didn't dispute the allegations, telling CNN that he's "deeply sorry" and will be taking a "step back" from his daily duties to deal with the situation. "During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me," Halperin said in a statement to CNN. "I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain." Halperin, now 52, was ABC's political director at the time.