Roger Ailes appears close to departing Fox News
Reporting from New York — Roger Ailes appears to be close to leaving his post as chairman and chief executive of Fox News in the wake of sexual harassment charges made against him.
Fox News parent 21st Century Fox issued a statement late Tuesday that said Ailes is still employed by the company. “Roger is at work,†the statement said. “The review is ongoing. And the only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement.
However, a person close to several of the personalities at Fox News believed it was a matter of time before Ailes steps down.
Word had circulated among TV news industry business that Bill Shine, a longtime lieutenant of Ailes, has returned to New York from Cleveland where Fox News is covering the Republican National Convention. Shine is considered a leading candidate to step in for Ailes.
Ailes’ imminent departure comes two weeks after former anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation for her complaining about a hostile work environment.
His exit would be a stunning sudden end to the career of one of the most powerful executives in the media business who left a major impact on the television landscape.
After Carlson’s suit was filed, 21st Century Fox brought in a law firm to review her allegations and talked with other employees about Ailes’ behavior. The review led to reports that others gave accounts of alleged sexual harassment by Ailes.
Ailes has denied all of the allegations made against him. Ailes’ attorney Susan Estrich also issued a statement rebutting a report that Fox News Channel’s star anchor Megyn Kelly had given an account of being sexually harassed by Ailes early in her 12-year career at the company.
“Roger Ailes has never sexually harassed Megyn Kelly,†Estrich said. “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.â€
Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
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