Movie On Clarence Thomas Dropped

Fox Television dropped plans for a TV movie about sexual harassment allegations against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas because of objections from Rupert Murdoch, head of Fox's parent company, The New York Times reported Monday

The movie was to be based on the 1994 book Strange Justice, written by Wall Street Journal reporters Jane Mayer and Jill Abramson.

The book asserts that Anita Hill told the truth in Senate hearings on Thomas' Supreme Court nomination when she alleged sexual improprieties by Thomas. He was confirmed despite the allegations.

Murdoch, chairman of the News Corp. and a friend of Thomas, scrapped the project two weeks ago after reading the book, people close to the project told the Times.

Thomas is a conservative and Murdoch has a history of supporting conservative politicians, reported the Times.

"I was told that Fox was very excited about the script," said Jacob Epstein, the project's screenwriter. "Then I learned two weeks ago that Mr. Murdoch had asked for a copy of the book, Strange Justice, to read over the weekend, and on Monday the project was dead."

However, the president of 20th Century Fox, the immediate parent of Fox Television, told the Times that Murdoch was not involved in the project's termination.

"The script came in and they did not like it. It was passed on by the network," Peter Chernin said.

There was no immediate comment from Murdoch, said a spokeswoman, Marcia Horowitz.