Hank Winchester, an Emmy-winning Detroit tv reporter and co-host of “The Morning After” podcast with Kelly Stafford, opened up about being cleared in a regulation enforcement investigation that stemmed from allegations that he made undesirable sexual advances to a person throughout a therapeutic massage in June.
Winchester, who had been away from the podcast since allegations grew to become public, returned to “The Morning After” podcast Monday, and recalled taking polygraph checks and defined that it was an “emotionally exhausting course of” amid a “very detailed” investigation.
“There was an allegation that was made in opposition to me by somebody and police have a duty in these conditions to research allegations,” mentioned Winchester, whose Beverly Hills dwelling was searched by police executing a search warrant associated to the investigation on June 13. “However they need to additionally take the time to research the individual making the allegations. It's form of one of many classes I've realized in all of this. And on account of some motion that was taken by the native regulation enforcement, there was an area media report that was completed by one station particularly and that basically form of unfold like wildfire.”
Winchester — who was positioned on administrative go away with Native 4 Information, Detroit's NBC affiliate — didn't title the native information report.
Fox2 Detroit, which was amongst different native information shops that reported the allegations, mentioned on the time that Winchester studied therapeutic massage remedy not too long ago. It's unclear if he was the one being massaged or serving because the masseuse.
“Consequently it led to a really detailed and mandatory investigation,” Winchester mentioned. “I say mandatory as a result of if it's going to occur, I wish to know that investigators had each alternative to have a look at every thing they wanted to, which they did, and decide that on this case that allegation was unfounded, it was baseless, it was defamatory. And that was the chance now for my attorneys to return out… however I'm very grateful for that. And I'm very grateful to be on the opposite aspect of this. One-hundred % clear. No prices. The proof spoke for itself.
“However I'll let you know it was an emotionally exhausting course of as my attorneys revealed. I took two polygraph checks and handed them with flying colours and there was no detection of any deception. And I did that voluntarily as a result of it was vital for me to verify the investigators had every thing they wanted. That's just about all I can say about it… It simply primarily comes right down to not me saying thanks.”
Winchester is married to Oakland County Circuit Choose Jacob Cunningham, with whom he shares a 7-year-old daughter, Emma.
“This was the worst 9 weeks of my whole life,” he mentioned. “And I've misplaced each my mother and father, I've had testicular most cancers, I've gone by way of a divorce. I've had s–t. Nothing in comparison with this as a result of each facet of your life is touched.”
Kelly, who's the spouse of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, recalled being concerned about Winchester through the investigation.
“I do hope you felt how a lot you're cared about and cherished since you are and it's due to the individual you're Hank,” Kelly mentioned. “…It was actually exhausting as a result of for a minute there I felt like I couldn't come up with you… I'm so f–king glad proper now. I knew this was going to be the top consequence however rattling did it take awhile to get right here however aren't we glad that it's lastly f–king right here. I don't wish to chunk my tongue or get in bother by saying an excessive amount of. I'll allow you to take over.”
Todd Flood and Neil Rockind, attorneys for Winchester mentioned in a press convention on Friday that their consumer was the sufferer of allegations that unfold internationally after one TV station revealed a narrative, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Winchester, who was not current on the press convention, launched a press release on his social media.
It's unclear if Winchester continues to be on administrative go away with Native 4 Information.
