NY magazine, citing anonymous sources, reported on Tuesday that Kelly had told investigators working for Fox News Channel parent 21st Century Fox that Ailes had sexually harassed her 10 years ago. Now New York magazine citing unnamed sources reported today that Fox anchor Megyn Kelly told the outside law firm conducting the review that Ailes sexually harassed her when she was a Fox reporter about a decade ago.
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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.
According to New York Magazine, Kelly told investigators she was a target of Ailes’ sexual advances early in her career at the network.
His attorney, Susan Estrich, and a spokesperson for 21st Century Fox said Ailes was still a Fox News employee as of late Tuesday.
The longtime conservative news executive will soon be out of a job after his standing went into a sudden free fall after allegations of sexual harassment from former Fox News Channel host Gretchen Carlson.
In a statement, 21st Century Fox said that Ailes, 76, is now still an employee.
According to the separation agreement between Ailes and Fox News, tweeted and later deleted by The Drudge Report, Ailes could potentially receive bonuses totaling over million, in addition to his annual base salary of more than $6 million.
A Fox statement said a legal review into the accusations was ongoing and that Ailes was working. “The only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement”.
On Monday, New York magazine’s Gabriel Sherman reported that the three Murdochs “have settled on removing” Ailes. Megyn Kelly was a corporate litigator before she came to Fox News and became one of its biggest prime-time stars. Either they can throw all in behind Megyn Kelly-in which case they would have to forfeit most of the rest of the network-or they can stand with the hardworking anchors and news personalities at Fox News. Ailes called Carlson’s suit “defamatory” and said he would vigorously defend himself against the claims.
In Cleveland, the site of the Republican National Convention, Ailes’s fate was a ubiquitous topic of conversation.
The elder Mr. Murdoch has been in touch with his sons about the matter and when he returns from vacation in the south of France next week expects to bring it to a resolution, one of the people familiar with the matter said. The source close to the investigation told Abrams that multiple Fox News female talent – both current and former – have spoken to investigators about possible harassment by Ailes, “and that’s why this is moving so quickly”. But that appeared to be contradicted by another Drudge “bulletin” claiming the Ailes’ ouster reports were at most premature.
Murdoch’s sons have been taking a larger role in operations since the 85-year-old tycoon announced he was gradually easing control of his corporate empire, which includes 21st Century Fox and the global publishing group News Corp.
In a statement, he said, “Gretchen Carlson’s allegations are false”. Carlson, a former beauty queen before her broadcasting career, alleges her contract was not renewed after she spurned sexual advances by Ailes.
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A political force, Ailes toiled in Republican politics as a media adviser for Richard Nixon’s 1968 presidential campaign – helping engineer the greatest political comeback of its time.
