Billy Bush has hired a prominent Los Angeles attorney to manage terms of his divorce from NBC amid a report the network held on to the tape to inflict maximum impact on the election.
TMZ reported NBC planned to release the tape — and scrub Bush from the tape to protect him — 48 hours before the second presidential debate. But because of Hurricane Matthew, NBC decided to delay the release until after the debate, prompting someone to leak the tape to The Washington Post, TMZ reported.
TMZ reported NBC's intent was to impact the debate and the election, given the network's disdain for Donald Trump.
NBC, however, said it didn't know about the tape until last week and then moved "quickly and deliberately to get it published."
Bush, who reportedly boasted of the tape to NBC execs during the summer Olympics, may have a different story to tell. Hence, the hiring of prominent attorney Marshall Grossman, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
Grossman set the tone for the defense of his client's role in the tape.
"If Billy had been passive or responded 'Shut the **** up' to Trump, Billy would have been out of a job the next day," Grossman told THR.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.