Matt Lauer: Family Defends Assistant Of Disgraced ‘Today’ Host

Matt Lauer was fired in disgrace after being exposed as a serial sexual harasser — but the mother of the "Today" host's longtime assistant is defending her daughter!

Jacqueline Agnolet was Lauer's assistant for 20 years — and her mother Rose told RADAR Online in an exclusive interview that her daughter wasn't involved in shocking tales about Lauer's alleged office perversions. "“She was never a part of that,” said Rose. “She doesn’t recall any such incident happening. She has worked with him for 20 years. He always treated her with the utmost respect.”

Rose also revealed to RADAR that her daughter was assured that she still had a position at "Today" after Lauer's quick termination — but added: “She is quite upset, very upset. This came as a shock to us all. She had no idea this was going on, so we are all just very shocked.”

Jacqueline had worked in the office of Senator Ted Kennedy before joining Lauer at the "Today" show. Her mother told RADAR that she believed that experience would come in handy now. “She worked on the Hill for 10 years,” said Rose, “so she’s strong, and she will stand again.”