Fox News chief Roger Ailes denies harassing Megyn Kelly

[webfact]

Fox News chief Roger Ailes denies harassing Megyn Kelly
DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — A lawyer for Roger Ailes denied Tuesday that the embattled Fox News Channel chief executive sexually harassed network star Megyn Kelly.

Susan Estrich's statement came amid a swirl of contradictory reports that Ailes had been ousted as head of the influential network he built from scratch, that he hadn't been ousted, and that he was negotiating a departure.

Attributing anonymous sources, New York magazine reported on Tuesday that Kelly had told investigators working for Fox News Channel parent 21st Century Fox that Ailes had sexually harassed her when she was a reporter at Fox 10 years ago.

"Roger Ailes has never sexually harassed Megyn Kelly," Estrich said. "In fact, he has spent much of the last decade promoting and helping her achieve the stardom she earned, for which she has repeatedly and publicly thanked him."

A former Fox anchor, Gretchen Carlson, alleged in a lawsuit that Ailes had forced her out following a meeting where he told her that "you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago." The contract of Carlson, who said there was an atmosphere of harassment at Fox, was not renewed when it ended last month.

Ailes denied Carlson's charges. Since the lawsuit was filed July 6, a succession of Fox employees have come forward to publicly defend him, but they notably did not include Kelly. The prime-time host's profile increased dramatically in the past year following attacks on her by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Kelly's agent did not return a request for comment on Tuesday.

A handful of other women have come forward alleging that Ailes had pressured them for sex, their stories all predating the start of Fox News Channel in 1996. 21st Century Fox hired an outside law firm to look into allegations against Ailes and New York magazine reported on Monday that company chiefs Rupert Murdoch and his sons, James and Lachlan, had concluded that the media executive had to go.

That led to a series of stories late Tuesday that he'd been ousted, even the circulation of a document supposedly outlining an exit agreement. 21st Century Fox said that "Roger is at work. The review is ongoing. And the only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement."

At stake is an extraordinary career in media and politics. At Rupert Murdoch's behest, Ailes started a news network that catered to conservatives who felt ignored by the mainstream media. By 2002, it had eclipsed the original cable news network, CNN, in ratings and has never looked back. Fox is now dominating all of the other networks in this week's coverage of the Republican National Convention.

Fox News is a huge success financially, by some measures providing a quarter of its parent company's revenues. That had given Ailes power in some corporate scrapes he had with Rupert Murdoch's sons.

There was some evidence this campaign that Fox's influence with Republicans had been waning, since the network had gotten into battles with Trump. But in recent weeks Trump has more frequently turned to Fox as a way to reach the Republican audience he needs for election.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-07-20

[webfact]

Fox News boss Roger Ailes 'in talks on his departure'

NEW YORK: -- Fox News Channel boss Roger Ailes is negotiating his departure from the network, according to US media reports.

It comes less than two weeks after former presenter Gretchen Carlson sued Mr Ailes for sexual harassment and wrongful termination, claims he denies.

The New York Times, citing a source, said Mr Ailes and parent company 21st Century Fox were in the advanced stages of talks on his departure.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36842064


-- BBC 2016-07-20

[Ulysses G.]

Who could blame him? She would be impossible to resist!

Edited July 20, 2016 by Ulysses G.

[Pimay1]

I would believe Roger over Megyn any day.

[halloween]

It seems Susan Estrich wasn't sexually harassed. You would need a blindfold and earplugs.

[ilostmypassword]

If you want to see 3 reasons why Republicans are doing so badly with women, just look at the first three posts on this thread.

[tonypace02]

21st Century Fox has its own investigation going. Ailes is history.

[keemapoot]

Who could blame him? She would be impossible to resist!

Sure, if you like middle-aged, holier than thou, preachy, judgmental women.

[LomSak27]

First Gretchen now Megyn.

He had a good ride and has his revenge on those nasty people who brought his man, Richard Nixon, down. However now looks like he will be tossed under the bus like all those he has tossed before. What goes around comes around Roger.

Edited July 20, 2016 by LomSak27

[smotherb]

It seems Susan Estrich wasn't sexually harassed. You would need a blindfold and earplugs.

. . . don't forget the gloves and steel-belted condom

[giddyup]

I imagine Greta Van Susteren is safe.

[mtls2005]

Report: Megyn Kelly told Fox investigators Ailes sexually harassed her, too

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/07/19/report-megyn-kelly-told-fox-investigators-ailes-sexually-harassed-her-too/87292092/

These rumors have been swirling for decades, obviously involving other women.

Now it's a matter of getting out with some money, and avoiding prison.

[Ulysses G.]

Who could blame him? She would be impossible to resist!

Sure, if you like middle-aged, holier than thou, preachy, judgmental women.

.

She looks GREAT for her age and the rest does not matter for a short time.

[Boon Mee]

I imagine Greta Van Susteren is safe.

Think anyone hits on Cristiane Amanpour?

[Buzzz]

All I can say is I save allot of money on porn by watching Megan.

[Buzzz]

I imagine Greta Van Susteren is safe.

She looks like his twin sister. Yuk.

[SheungWan]

Who could blame him? She would be impossible to resist!

Some guys just don't get the difference between hitting on a woman and sexual harassment.

[keemapoot]

retracted

Edited July 20, 2016 by keemapoot