Megyn Kelly might also have a harassment complaint against Roger Ailes

In a statement, Ailes responded that Carlson was let go for low ratings, and the misbehavior allegations are false.

Rupert Murdoch and his sons James and Lachlan, who own Fox News’ parent company, 21st Century Fox, are reportedly planning to remove Ailes as CEO. Ailes’ attorney Susan Estrich told CNN that there is no deal and that the report published on Drudge was inaccurate.

Carlson’s July 6 legal action in New Jersey Superior Court-filed after her contract was not renewed and she was unceremoniously sacked on June 23-prompted 21 Century Fox to engage the blue chip law firm Paul Weiss to conduct an internal review of her allegations, and those of other potential accusers who have reportedly trekked to the law firm’s Manhattan offices to submit to confidential interviews.

According to Sherman, the Murdochs gave Ailes an ultimatum at some point this week: Resign willingly by August 1, or face the possibility of being publicly fired. He’s accused of harassing employees, including the network’s broadcast star, Megyn Kelly, and Fox & Friend’s Gretchen Carlson.

Unlike female Fox personalities such as Harris Faulkner, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro, and others who publicly vouched for Ailes’ professionalism, Megyn Kelly has been conspicuously silent about her boss. Lawyers for Gretchen Carlson had said they were having difficulty getting people to discuss potential harassment because of those agreements. The network launched in 1996 and spearheaded a new form of news and entertainment.

In a brief statement, 21st Century Fox explained that “Roger is at work”.

Estrich also said that Ailes could continue his involvement with Fox News after 20 years at the helm in a possible consultant role should he step down as CEO. And that change will have ripple effects throughout the conservative movement in the USA, a movement Fox and Ailes were seen as being intimately connected with, if not actually in charge of. The prime-time host’s profile increased dramatically in the past year following attacks on her by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

There was some evidence this campaign that Fox’s influence with Republicans had been waning, since the network had gotten into battles with Trump.

Fox News’ Howard Kurtz interrupted the network’s coverage of the RNC convention on Tuesday night to clear the air.