Newly named Mets general manager Jared Porter sent unsolicited, explicit text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016, Mina Kimes and Jeff Passan of ESPN report. Porter was then part of the Cubs’ front office.
The reporter, a foreign correspondent who Kimes and Passan note is no longer in the business, said Porter sent her more than 60 messages that she ignored before he sent her a lewd photo. Although Porter admitted to ESPN that he sent lewd images, he said that “the more explicit ones are not of me. Those are like, kinda like joke-stock images.” Porter later apologized to her via text, but only after the woman replied to tell him that his conduct was “extremely inappropriate, very offensive, and getting out of line.”
Mets president Sandy Alderson told ESPN: “I have spoken directly with Jared Porter regarding events that took place in 2016 of which we were made aware tonight for the first time. Jared has acknowledged to me his serious error in judgment, has taken responsibility for his conduct, has expressed remorse and has previously apologized for his actions. The Mets take these matters seriously, expect professional and ethical behavior from all of our employees, and certainly do not condone the conduct described in your story. We will follow up as we review the facts regarding this serious issue.”
The Mets named Porter their GM on Dec. 13. It’s not yet clear whether they will retain him.