“Tantaros’s complaint is fìlled with falsehoods, but for present purposes, what matters most is that her foundational allegation – that her lawsuit has been properly filed in this Court – is demonstrably wrong”, the filing also stated.
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Her suit states in part: “Fox News masquerades as defender of traditional family values, but behind the scenes, it operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency, and misogyny”.
“Not to be outdone by anyone, (Tantaros) contends that she was sexually harassed by an ever-shifting collection of employees at Fox News”, the filing states. Tantaros’ complaint, which named Fox News executives Bill Shine, Dianne Brandi, Suzanne Scott and PR chief Irena Briganti as defendants along with Ailes, “bears all the hallmarks of the “wannabe’: she claims that she too was victimized by Roger Ailes, when, in fact, contrary to her pleading, she never complained of any such conduct in the course of an investigation months ago”.
Her lawyer says Fox used the book as an excuse to bench her after she spoke up about harassment. But Fox also specifically alleges that Tantaros only began making sexual harassment claims after Gretchen Carlson sued Roger Ailes. Tantaros also wants Shine to say whether he knew that Fox News had tried to smear her on social media using so-called “sock puppet” accounts. The network notes that she is already a party to pending arbitration after having been suspended by Fox, which has accused her of breaching her employment agreement by writing a book without prior authorization by the network.
While she claims the network has retaliated against her, “she concedes that she has not been terminated and remains on Fox News’ payroll”, the network says. Longtime host and correspondent Geraldo Rivera, echoing the views of colleagues, said her lawsuit is “not [a] honest legal document”, it is a “vindictive screed created to damage reputations and hurt feelings”.
In return, lawyers for Tantaros called on Ailes and Fox News employees to answer very specific questions.
The filing seeks to “compel the arbitration of Plaintiff Andrea Tantaros’s complaint at the American Arbitration Association in New York City”. In a response filed Monday, the network calls Tantaros a lying “opportunist” who merely wishes she was sexually harassed.
Fox News at the time did not respond to multiple news outlets’ requests for comment, and on Monday emailed a copy of its court filing to Patch and other media.
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Her lawyer had no immediate response to the motion compelling arbitration on Monday.
