Fox News Sex Harassment Payoffs Case Headed to Grand Jury
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The Roger Ailes' mess just won't die.....
The LA Times reports that a federal grand jury will hear testimony on whether Fox News improperly handled financial settlements given to female employees who made sexual harassment claims against the company.
But the future of the investigation of Fox News — spurred by the sexual harassment allegations that led to the departure of its powerful former chairman Roger Ailes — remains unclear.
Whether the case will be pursued vigorously may depend on who is named to replace Preet Bharara, the former U.S. attorney who launched the investigation.
Bharara was fired Saturday by President Trump. His dismissal followed Trump’s request for the resignation of 46 U.S. attorneys, who are political appointees. Bharara, appointed by President Obama, did not comply with the request.
The move raises the question of whether the office will want to keep the legal heat on Fox in light of President Trump's long friendship with Ailes, who briefly advised him during the presidential campaign after he left the company in July.
Fox News has also been the president's favorite stop for press interviews.
A 21st Century Fox representative referred to its previous statement when the news of the probe came to light last month in a court hearing on the sexual harassment case brought against the company by Fox News personality Andrea Tantaros.
“Neither Fox News nor [21st Century Fox] has received a subpoena, but we have been in communication with the U.S. attorney’s office for months — we have and will continue to cooperate on all inquiries with any interested authorities,” the company said.
The U.S. attorney’s office does not comment on the existence of any ongoing investigation.
