Van Susteren was a vocal defender of Ailes when sexual harassment accusations were first leveled against the former Fox News chairman.
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Carlson also released a statement: “I am gratified that 21st Century Fox took decisive action after I filed my complaint”.
Fox News has put an end to the scandal that engulfed the network after former news anchor Gretchen Carlson claimed that the then chairman and CEO Roger Ailes fired her after she refused his sexual advances. “This is something every client who walks in my office wants and I tell them to a person this is something you will never get”, she said. “All women deserve a dignified and respectful workplace”, she said. Ailes resigned in July after Fox investigated Carlson’s claims.
Carlson has voluntarily dismissed her federal lawsuit in New Jersey against Ailes, a court filing shows.
However, 21 Century Fox issued an unprecedented public apology to Carlson.
That’s just some of the fallout Fox News has seen since Carlson’s lawsuit.
This high profile suit brought more than 20 other women out of the woodwork who, either anonymously or with their names attached, told harrowing stories of harassment and abuse at the hands of Ailes dating back to the 1960s. “She developed a loyal audience and was a daily source of information for many Americans”, Fox said. But according to an anonymous source cited in the USA Today story on the settlement, the channel’s parent company was responsible for any damages that would have arisen from the case under DE law, where the lawsuit was filed. Murdoch recently named veteran Fox executives Jack Abernethy and Bill Shine as the network’s new co-presidents. It also says that Fox is preparing to settle two additional sexual harassment cases against Ailes.
INSKEEP: OK, so big news but still a lot of questions – $20 million for Gretchen Carlson.
Another former Fox News host, Laurie Dhue, has said she is writing a book that would include details of her time working for Ailes. “It kind of puts an exclamation mark on how this has come down in terms of this ending Roger Ailes’ career, certainly his career at Fox News”.
Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros is still suing, alleging sexual harassment.
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“This is a retaliatory suit for the network’s decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup”, he said. There are a number of others who quite publicly defended him in recent months as this story came to light.
