The nation’s most watched news network – and, by far, the most conservative – is in turmoil following reports that journalists Gretchen Carlson and Megyn Kelly were subjected to harassment by Fox News president Roger Ailes.
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Ailes, the mag reported, has been getting advice about how to handle the case from Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani.
Roger Ailes has begun discussing terms for stepping down as chairman of Fox News, The Wall Street Journal has reported.
On Monday, New York Magazine reported that Murdoch and sons Lachlan and James decided that Ailes would need to go.
The departure, should it happen, the FT said, “could present a big problem for the Murdochs”. Asked by The Hollywood Reporter if her client was in talks to negotiate his exit from Fox, she replied, “There are a lot of ideas floating around, but no final decision has been made by anybody”. “Roger Ailes has never sexually harassed Megyn Kelly”, Estrich, a partner at the Quinn Emanuel law firm, said in a prepared statement.
‘In fact, he has spent much of the last decade promoting and helping her to achieve the stardom she earned, for which she has repeatedly and publicly thanked him’.
Ailes has a loyal following at Fox News and Fox Business and has typically operated with little interference from the leadership at 21st Century Fox, in part because of his close relationship with Rupert Murdoch, according to WSJ.
The report, citing sources close to the situation, said Ailes was given the option of resigning or being fired this week. Barry Asen, Ailes’ outside counsel, has dismissed all allegations, and said that Carson’s team “are desperately attempting to litigate this in the press because they have no legal case to argue”.
“The lawyers are seeking to interview former female employees of Fox News in addition to current staff”.
The move to oust Ailes also appears to be influenced by Kelly’s ongoing contract negotiations with the network.
In her case, the former after an 11-year run at Fox.
In addition to Hannity, Pirro and Van Susteren, Neil Cavuto and Kimberly Guilfoyle have defended Ailes against the claims of sexual misconduct. I have no bones about criticizing someone when they deserve to be criticized.
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. I have been in a room with him.
Kelly’s claims sound similar to those of former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, who sued Ailes earlier this month for sexual harassment after she was released by the network.
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Fox News has since shared handwritten notes from Carlson to Ailes from late 2015 in which she said she’d love to remain at Fox, while asking for additional opportunities there.
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