A report on Monday explained that three Murdoch family members at the top of 21st Century Fox tasked a NY law firm with investigating the claims against Ailes, and “after reviewing the initial findings …”
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According to The Drudge Report, Ailes will be kept on a consultancy basis until June 30, 2017, during which time he will be paid his current $6.25 million salary in addition to bonuses for 2016 and 2017 – a sum of almost $40 million by the time it’s all said and done.
The network originally confirmed the report to The Daily Beast that Ailes was leaving the network after the Drudge Report release the terms of Ailes’ buyout.
“Roger is at work”, it said in a statement. The review is ongoing.
Ailes founded Fox News in 1996 and has served as the network’s CEO throughout its history.
Estrich, his attorney, said the news of Ailes’ possible departure has upset some of the Fox News talent who called to offer support.
Ailes is now embroiled in a sexual harassment lawsuit brought forward by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson.
Kelly’s silence on the matter has been a crushing blow against Ailes, who has been one her biggest boosters over the years.
Despite earlier reports that emerged late Tuesday afternoon, Fox News CEORoger Ailes is still employed by the company.
Carlson accused Ailes of asking for sexual favors and not renewing her contract after she refused his advances. At this point, I felt sick. She claimed Ailes made unwanted sexual advances toward her and retaliated for her rejection by effectively firing her.
The source, who had been briefed on the investigation into Ailes, told the magazine that Kelly had chose to come forward about her own harrasment because she saw other women within Fox coming to Ailes’ defense.
If Roger Ailes does in fact exit, many consider it to be a humbling moment for the man. Several questioned Carlson’s motives and wondered why she had waited until she was dismissed to file a sexual harassment lawsuit.
“Gretchen Carlson’s allegations are false”.
She worked for the conservative-leaning United States network for 11 years before her contract expired in June.
He added, “This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously”. This also caused a lot of media speculation about what the future would look like for FOX News and Roger Ailes.
The Murdoch-owned newspaper cites sources who said Ailes is out as CEO and chairman of the company. Twenty-first Century Fox expressed confidence in Ailes but hired NY law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison to investigate the situation. She couldn’t be reached for comment and her agent declined to comment.
This year, Fox News is leading all basic cable channels in prime-time and total-day viewership for the first time in the network’s history. In October, Fox News will celebrate its 20th anniversary, a milestone executives have been proudly discussing for months.
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The “review” in question is an internal investigation being conducted by the company to look into the allegations against Ailes, a onetime political consultant and former aide to Richard Nixon who is credited with helping George H.W. Bush win the White House in 1988.
