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A former MSNBC employee who accused host Chris Matthews of sexual harassment in 1999 was given a separation payment by the network, according to a Daily Caller report.

Two sources told the Caller that a woman who was then an assistant producer on Matthews' show "Hardball" accused the longtime MSNBC host of making inappropriate sexual comments about her while in the company of others. The sources say the company settled with the woman for $40,000.

However, MSNBC disputed the sources' claims. The network confirmed to the Daily Caller that while they paid the woman, the money was given as part of a severance package and the amount paid was "significantly less" than $40,000.

A spokesman for MSNBC told the Caller that they "thoroughly reviewed" the situation and "formally reprimanded" Matthews, who has hosted "Hardball" on the network since 1997. He also hosted "The Chris Matthews Show" on the network after the settlement from 2002 to 2013.

News of Matthews' past allegations comes at a tumultuous time for NBC, which recently fired longtime "The Today Show" host Matt Lauer after multiple accusations of sexual assault.

CAA Flagship wrote:Meh. The accusations are about nothing. I wish there was more better dirt on Matthews. Like tickle-feather fights with Lawrence O'Donnell.